Latest Representatives of Iran's Underground Cinema at Rotterdam Festival

Alongside the Fajr Film Festival in Iran, the Rotterdam Film Festival, a prestigious European cinematic event, showcased several films from the unofficial cinema movement in Iran. Among the films presented were two new Iranian films produced without adhering to the mandatory hijab censorship for female actors and without the usual filmmaking permits in the Islamic Republic. These films are the latest products of a movement that has become the main representatives of Iranian cinema at significant international events and festivals, especially in the last two years. One of the films, 'Sunshine Express' directed by Amir Ali Navayi, was screened in the competition section of the Rotterdam festival. The story revolves around a group that agrees to become passengers on a fictional train in a studio for a reality competition, under the condition that they accept everything they are told. The cast includes Babak Karimi, Mohammad Aghabati, Sajjad Hamidian, Sam Nakhai, Shayesteh Sajadi, Azadeh Seyfi, Kiana Kermaniyan, Mahvash Afshar Panah, and Arash Naeimian. According to the Rotterdam festival website, it is 'a superb metaphorical work examining how authoritarian structures maintain their existence through collective complicity.' Another Iranian feature film shown in Rotterdam, titled 'Community,' was screened in the 'Bright Future' section. This film tells the story of a group of young boys and girls from the so-called Generation Z who want to throw a night party to celebrate one of their friends' trip abroad. In this film, female actors also do not wear hijabs, and the film's approach and expression are very explicit and bold. It is directed by Sahand Kabiri, who has previously made several short films. The cast includes Keyvan Mohammadi, Razieh Mansouri, Shoja Giyahi, Basteh Rezaei, Rambod Matlabi, and Dorsa Shirazi. In addition to these two new films, 'The Fig Seed of Temples' directed by Mohammad Rasoulof, which has been nominated for an Oscar in the Best International Feature Film category, was also specially screened at the Rotterdam festival with the presence of its creator. During this session, Rasoulof discussed the conditions of independent Iranian filmmakers and mentioned the legal case formed against the crew of his film and the travel ban imposed on one of his actresses, Soheila Golestani, stating that the Islamic Republic is waiting to issue the final verdict for this actress after the Oscar results are announced. Ms. Golestani was supposed to attend the Rotterdam festival as a judge but could not participate due to her travel ban. Additionally, the feature documentary 'Tehran, Incomplete History' by Saeed Noori, which narrates the contemporary history of Tehran through the editing of a large number of Iranian films before the 1979 revolution and combines them with well-known songs and music, was screened at the Rotterdam festival with the presence of its creator. At Noori's suggestion, the old film 'Neglect' directed by Ali Kasmaei from 1953, featuring Nasser Malek Motiee, was also screened. Navid Nikkhah Azad, a filmmaker and writer present at the festival, provided explanations about each of the Iranian films and the presence of their creators at the Rotterdam festival in an interview with 'Scene' on Radio Farda.