North American Premiere
Iranian pop icon Googoosh has moved countless hearts with her singing and remains beloved by her devoted fans all over the world. On stage since she was three years old, the superstar has lived through decades of political upheaval, including the Islamic Revolution which fettered the rights of women and banned her from performing. She has endured political persecution, 20 years of house arrest, exile, and made a career comeback. Blessed with a natural warmth and the rare ability to connect with people through her music, Googoosh is still on stage in her 70s, outspoken in her activism for her homeland, boldly speaking for the rights of women and young people.
Niloufar Taghizadeh’s enthralling documentary includes archival footage, rare performances, as well as interviews with Googoosh, who tells her story with characteristic wit and charm. This is a fascinating portrait of a troubled and turbulent country, conveyed through the life of an extraordinary woman.
Sept 30: Q&A with director Niloufar Taghizadeh
Presented by
Media Partner
Googoosh
Germany
2024
In Farsi and English with English subtitles
Book Tickets
Indigenous & Community Access
Indigenous Access Tickets Community Access Tickets Ticket Donation Requests
Credits & Director
Executive Producer
Niloufar Taghizadeh
Producer
Niloufar Taghizadeh
Cinematography
James Rodney Stolz, Steffen Bohnert
Editor
Catharina Kleber
Niloufar Taghizadeh
Niloufar Taghizadeh was born in Iran and moved to Germany in 1996 to study directing at the Athanor Academy. She has worked on many international projects as a writer, director, and producer and has collaborated with German public TV channels ZDF and ARTE. In 2019, she founded her production company Windcatcher Productions. With her films, she contributes to reflecting on the social conditions in Iran and the world at large. She is especially interested in social justice issues like women’s and children’s rights and struggles against oppression. In 2024, Niloufar is bringing two documentary feature films to cinemas and international festivals: Nila’s Dream in the Garden of Eden and Googoosh – Made of Fire.
Filmography: Nila’s Dream in the Garden of Eden (2024)
Missing VIFF? Check out what's playing at the VIFF Centre
Agatha's Almanac
Shot over six years on vibrant 16mm film, Agatha’s Almanac is an artful documentary portrait of filmmaker Amalie Atkin’s octogenarian aunt, who has fashioned herself an endearingly simple and self-sustaining lifestyle on her Manitoba farm.
Erupcja
Charli xcx headlines this indie gem about a young English couple coming unmoored over a few days in Warsaw. Will means to propose. Beth has cold feet -- and an escape hatch she has barely admitted to herself... Think Before Sunrise 2025.
The Doll
In our new Film Studies series on Thursdays, Devan Scott guides us through the evolution of lighting techniques from the silent era to the present day. Each presentation will include a classic film screening; this week, The Doll (1919).
The Art of Adventure
The unbelievable adventure story of how painter Robert Bateman and ecologist Bristol Foster drove a Land Rover from Africa to Australia in 1957, developing a love of nature to last a lifetime. An inspirational love letter to the adventure of life itself.