Screening of the film 'Seven Days' starring Vishka Asayesh in Toronto; Producer Mohammad Farakhmanesh: The film's message is respect for human rights and freedom

The film 'Seven Days', directed by Ali Samadi Ahadi, a German-Iranian filmmaker, will be screened for the first time at the Toronto International Film Festival in Canada. Mohammad Farakhmanesh, one of the producers of 'Seven Days', spoke about the project with Voice of America. 'Seven Days' depicts the story of an Iranian human rights activist who, after six years in prison, is released on medical leave for seven days. He has the chance to escape Iran but must make a difficult decision that could mean turning his back on the struggle for equality and democracy. The renowned Iranian artist Mohammad Rasoulof wrote the screenplay, and the well-known Iranian actress Vishka Asayesh plays the lead role. Vishka Asayesh left Iran for Europe following the recent widespread protests and the beginning of the 'Women, Life, Freedom' movement. She is a popular Iranian actress who has shared various images of her life and experiences on her social media accounts while discarding the mandatory hijab. Mohammad Farakhmanesh, a producer of 'Seven Days', mentioned to Voice of America that last year, Ali Samadi Ahadi, his friend, colleague, and partner, informed him that Mohammad Rasoulof had a screenplay that he was unsure he could produce due to the conditions in Iran, and therefore wanted it to be directed by Ali Samadi Ahadi. Farakhmanesh, who resides in Germany, added, 'After reading the screenplay, I was deeply moved by the story because it reflects the experiences of all of us who have been forced to leave our homes, lands, and homeland for various reasons, willingly or unwillingly. That is why I decided to join this project as a producer.' He noted that after discussions with Mohammad Rasoulof about the execution stages, the production of 'Seven Days' began in earnest, mentioning that one of the main challenges was the filming location, as underground productions have become very difficult and risky due to the existing problems in Iran. According to Mohammad Farakhmanesh, they ultimately chose Georgia for filming the main parts because it has many similarities to Iran, making it suitable for the desired scenes. He also pointed out that another challenge was the film's budget, stating that the director, producers, and other crew members waived their salaries to make the film possible because they believed in its human rights message. He added that filming began in early this year in Georgia and lasted nearly two months. According to this producer, the editing of 'Seven Days' has been completed and is ready for screening at the Toronto Film Festival. Mohammad Farakhmanesh stated that empathy with the story, the film's message of human rights and freedom, and support for independent cinema in Iran were the main motivations for him, Ali Samadi Ahadi, and all the contributors to participate in this cinematic project. He praised all filmmakers who, despite all limitations and problems, have kept the banner of independent cinema high inside and outside Iran, describing the selection of Mohammad Rasoulof's film 'The Fig Tree of Temples' as Germany's representative at the Oscars as a historic event. Farakhmanesh noted that German and French cinema usually pays special attention to their cultural works, and the selection of an Iranian filmmaker's film as Germany's representative in a competition like the Oscars is unprecedented, reflecting the values of independent Iranian cinema. He appreciated Vishka Asayesh's performance in the lead role, describing her as a talented, professional, and lovable person. He added that the Iranian actors in the film, all of whom live abroad, were selected after participating in audition processes and had a lot of motivation and energy to be part of this project. According to Mohammad Farakhmanesh, several Georgian artists also played supporting roles, and there was good cooperation among the group members. According to the Toronto festival program, 'Seven Days' will be screened for the first time on Friday, September 6 (16 Shahrivar) in Toronto. This year, 43 films from 41 countries will be screened in the main section of the festival, featuring a mix of works from renowned filmmakers and young talents.