ELAHE ESMAILI
A MOVE
Writer, Director, Co-Producer
Short Doc, 26mins, 2024
Against the backdrop of the Women, Life, Freedom protest movement in Iran, filmmaker Elahe Esmaili is helping her parents to pack up the family home. As the boxes stack up, discussions flare between the generations: Elahe does not wear the hijab, embodying the courage of her generation’s struggles. But can changing a society be as simple as moving house?
Awards & nominations:
-Visions du Réel, Best Short Youth Jury, Switzerland, 2024
-IDFA, Best of Fest, Netherlands, 2024
-Telluride Film Festival, USA, 2024
-Sheffield Doc/Fest, UK, 2024
-BFI London film festival, UK, 2024
-DOK Leipzig, Germany, 2024
-SanFransisco FF DocStories, USA, 2024
-DOC NYC, USA, 2024
-New Orlean IFF, USA, 2024
-Huesca International Film Festival, Best Documentary Short winner, Spain, 2024
-DMZ Docs, South Korea, 2024
-HotSpring Documentary FF, USA, 2024
-Aesthetica FF, UK, 2024
-Uppsala FF, Sweden, 2024
Festival Distributor: Square Eyes
Online Distributor: New York Times
THE DOLL
Writer, Director, Producer
Short Documentary, 33mins, 2021
After consulting with his relatives a 35-year-old father approves the marriage of his 14-year-old daughter. As individuals with differing perspectives his family grapple with the decision.
Awards & nominations:
-Best International Short Documentary, Hot Docs Canada, 2021
-Critics Choice Documentary Awards Nominee, USA, 2021
-International Documentary Association Awards Nominee, USA, 2021
-Full Frame Documentary Film Festival, USA, 2021
-Atlanta Film Festival, Georgia, USA, 2021
-Athens International Film and Video Festival, USA
-Student Academy Awards Semi Finalist, USA
-One World Media Award, UK
-Norwegian International Short Film Festival, Norway
-Huesca International Short Film Festival, Spain
-Tirana International Film Festival, Albania
-Kerala International Documentary & Short Film -Festival, India,
-Tehran International Short Film Festival, Iran
-Africa International Film Festival, Nigeria
-Encounters South African Documentary FilmFestival, South Africa
+ 50 other festivals and awards
SAYEH (SHADOW)
Writer, Director
Short Fiction, 22mins, 2024
Hoora, a 15-year-old Iranian in the UK, excels in rhythmic gymnastics and is picked for England's national team with a promising chance of making it to the Olympics. However, her dreams are jeopardised when her mother objects to her participation...
Awards & nominations:
-Short Shorts Film Festival, Japan, 2024
-Cleveland International FF, USA, 2024
-BronzeLens International FF, USA, 2024
-Sao Paulo International Short FF, Brazil, 2024
Starring
Maryam Davari, Sogand Mahmoodi,
Sofia Nazari, Sarah Piraddy
CAN I HUG YOU?
Writer, Director, Exec Producer
Short Doc, 35mins, 2023
In the city of Qom, the most restricted city in Iran, there are many restrictions on human rights such as mandatory hijab to assure sexual safety; Hossein (M, 30) grew up in this environment and experienced multiple sexual assaults by men, despite these measures. Due to stereotypes around masculinity, he never talked about it. With the support of his wife, Elahe, he now confronts the trauma.
Awards & nominations:
-Sheffield Doc/Fest International Short Competition, UK, 2023
-SIMA awards, Best Short Doc, USA, 2023
-IDA ICA grantee, 2023
-IDA Fall Docs Selection, 2023
-DC/Dox, USA, 2024
-Doc Against Gravity, Poland, 2024
-IFVA golden medal winner, 2024
-Vesoul Asia FF best short, Youth Jury, 2024
-One World Media, Best short winner, 2024