Following an extraordinary festival run, the acclaimed documentary directed, produced, and edited by Sara Khaki and Mohammadreza Eyni is now captivating audiences in major U.S. cities. The film is currently playing in New York City, with upcoming openings in Los Angeles on December 5 and San Francisco on December 7, expanding its reach to a broader audience eager to witness its powerful storytelling.
The documentary has already carved a place for itself in contemporary cinema, earning the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival in the World Cinema Documentary category—one of the most prestigious honors in global independent filmmaking. This recognition set the tone for a remarkable year of accolades, audience appreciation, and critical praise.
A Sweep of International Recognition
The film has resonated deeply with viewers around the world, capturing Audience Awards at IDFA, Visions du Réel, and Dok Leipzig—three of the most respected documentary festivals globally. Its universal themes of courage, resilience, and the human spirit have further earned it a long list of Best Documentary awards, including:
- Woodstock Film Festival 2025
- NYWIFT Best Directing in Documentary
- Warsaw NETPAC Award
- Warsaw Free Spirit Award
- Verzio Best Human Rights Award
- Newport Beach Film Festival – Best First Feature
- Giffoni Film Festival 2025
- MDOC Melgaço Film Festival 2025
- New Zealand Film Festival 2025 – Winner, Best Film
- Centre Film Festival – Best Documentary
- Festival des Libertés – Grand Jury Award & Center-d’Action Award
- Middle East Now Film Festival – Felicetta Ferraro Award
- Newport Beach Film Festival – Grand Jury Award
With each milestone, the film has strengthened its reputation as one of the most impactful and socially relevant documentaries of the year.
WATCH THE TRAILER
Featured on DOC NYC’s Prestigious Short List
In addition to its global festival success, the documentary was selected for the DOC NYC Short List, an annual program highlighting the most compelling and award-worthy nonfiction films of the year. This distinction further cements the film’s place among 2025’s top documentary achievements.
Insightful Conversations and Critical Acclaim
Audiences can also watch an exclusive in-depth conversation with directors Sara Khaki and Mohammadreza Eyni, moderated by Academy Award–winning filmmaker Orlando von Einsiedel. The discussion offers a deeper look into their creative process, the challenges they faced, and the emotional core of the story they bring to the screen.
Critics worldwide have praised the documentary for its storytelling, emotional depth, and cinematic craft:
- “One of the most extraordinary acts of observational filmmaking this year — or any year.” — Thom Powers, Pure Nonfiction
- “A political epic in miniature… riveting and deeply affecting.” — Bilge Ebiri, New York Magazine
- “A thought-provoking portrait of an extraordinary spirit… capturing the full force of Shahverdi’s formidable personality.” — Phuong Le, The Guardian
- “A marvel of insight… powerful in its portrayal of individual resilience and its indictment of authoritarian regimes.” — Barbara Goslawski, POV Magazine
- “A beautifully crafted documentary celebrating the profound ways women like Shahverdi change the world around them.” — Sara Clements, Next Best Picture
- “Profoundly inspiring… filled with striking images that elevate simple moments to cinematic poetry.” — Christopher Reed, Hammer to Nail
A Vision Brought to Life by a Passionate Team
Behind the film’s success is a dedicated team of visionary filmmakers and executive producers, including:
Executive Producers:
Meadow Fund, Sheila Nevins, Julie Parker Benello, Judith Helfand, Monika Parekh, Geralyn Dreyfous, Rebecca Lichtenfeld and Chandra Jessee for Inmaat, and Jenny Warburg.
Their collective passion and commitment have helped bring this extraordinary story to audiences worldwide.
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