Skip to main content

VIFF Tickets on sale now for VIFF+ members. Log in to purchase. Not a member? Join Now!

 

These Voices Are Real film image; child throwing something in a garbage can outside

These Voices Are Real

In Sedaha Vagheist

VIFF Short Forum

North American Premiere

A mother and her daughter spend the day together while waiting for the results of a medical test.

Director
Cast

Hoda Zeinolabedin, Dorin Afsharian

Credits
Country of Origin

Iran

Year

2026

Language

In Persian with English subtitles

Film Contact
Links
18+
11 min
Drama Family Relations Shorts Women Directors

This short is featured in:

These Voices Are Real film image; feet walking past a doll on the ground

Short Forum 6: Archive Lives!

Before anything becomes archival, it’s lived.

 

Book Tickets

Credits & Director

Producer

Baran Nikrah, Hoda Zeinolabedin

Screenwriter

Baran Nikrah

Cinematography

Farshad Mohammadi

Editor

Hamid Najafi-Rad

Production Design

Mohsen Shah-Ebrahimi

Baran Nikrah headshot

Baran Nikrah

Baran Nikrah is an Iranian writer, director, and producer based in Tehran. She holds a PhD in atomic and molecular physics and is a graduate of the directing program at Karnameh Art Institute. Her work focuses on short films and social drama, with a particular interest in women and children. These Voices Are Real (2026) is her debut short film. She is currently developing her next short film, Mamani.

VIFF Short Forum

See more shorts in this series

Short Forum 1: The Scarier One
Object of Riddle film image; a disproportionate metal face

Short Forum 1: The Scarier One

93 min

The return of scary: fear in all its chilling, suspenseful, and unsettling shades.

International Village 8
Short Forum 2: Anthropomaxx
The End film image; stop motion anthropomorphic animals ordering from a cafe counter

Short Forum 2: Anthropomaxx

112 min

Dogs, frogs, hogs, and more!

International Village 8
Short Forum 3: Workers of the World
Sweet Captive film image; man lying in a bed next to a painted tree

Short Forum 3: Workers of the World

111 min

The grind of the working class in a system that betrays its promises.

International Village 8
Short Forum 4: Immanence: A Life
Take Care film image; a beach

Short Forum 4: Immanence: A Life

111 min

You don’t have to look far; life is beautiful!

International Village 8
Short Forum 5: Somewhere Else
Acid City film image; kids playing in a parking lot at night

Short Forum 5: Somewhere Else

108 min

If space and time are pure perception, let’s build them differently.

International Village 8
Short Forum 6: Archive Lives!
These Voices Are Real film image; feet walking past a doll on the ground

Short Forum 6: Archive Lives!

107 min

Before anything becomes archival, it’s lived.

International Village 8
Short Forum 7: War at Home
Rotation film image; upside down image of woman sitting in a field

Short Forum 7: War at Home

107 min

Truly, no one is safe until everyone is safe.

International Village 8
Short Forum 8: Sticky & Wet
Dance of the Sun On the Water film image; person pinned against a column with arrows

Short Forum 8: Sticky & Wet

115 min

No matter the age, things can always get sticky and wet.

International Village 8
Short Forum 9: Big Time Sensuality
Vulnus film image; overlaid faces under red light

Short Forum 9: Big Time Sensuality

116 min

Explorations of desire and intimacy serve both pain and pleasure.

International Village 8
Short Forum 10: Are the Kids Alright?
Skinny Bottines film image; woman pointing at something

Short Forum 10: Are the Kids Alright?

106 min

The future kinda depends on it.

International Village 8