In 1976, there was a call to boycott the Shiraz Arts Festival. Some well-known international artists joined immediately; others reluctantly. “The giants aren’t coming this year,” wrote the Iranian newspaper Kayhan.
Between fragments of films commissioned by the Shah and the films and books banned in the same years are stories that first began with “crime-producing” poems — each returning to a fire that never stopped burning.
Showcasing her latest short masterpiece, Maryam Tafakory (Mast-del, MODES 2023; Razeh-del, MODES 2024; Daria’s Night Flowers, MODES 2025) reminds us why she is the leading voice of contemporary, short experimental Iranian cinema.
Iran/UK/France
2026
In Farsi with English subtitles
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Credits & Director
Producer
Maryam Tafakory
Editor
Maryam Tafakory
Maryam Tafakory
Maryam Tafakory, born and raised in Iran, works with film and performance. Screenings of her works have been hosted at Tate Modern, Cannes’ Directors Fortnight, New York Film Festival, Locarno Film Festival, and TIFF. Selected awards include the Gold Hugo at the 2022 Chicago International Film Festival, the Tiger Short Award at the 2022 International Film Festival Rotterdam, and Best Experimental Film at the 2022 Melbourne International Film Festival. Tafakory was the 2024 winner of the Film London Jarman Award. Her work has been featured in The Guardian, Le Monde, and Les Cahiers du Cinéma.
Photo by Oscar F Orengo
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