Short

00:19:03

Iran, Islamic Republic of

Sajad Soleymani

Synopsis:

A young man tasked with guarding a mosque is forced to secretly shelter his lover inside the sacred place for several days. Their hidden presence pushes them across multiple red lines — from the risk of being discovered by religious authorities to the intimate realities of love and the human body. Any revelation could destroy his life and turn their fragile refuge into a catastrophe.

DIRECTOR'S BIOGRAPHY

Sajad Soleymani is an Iranian independent filmmaker, writer, and researcher with a Master’s degree in Art Studies. He began his career by making short fiction films and completing long-term filmmaking courses. His early short, Slightly on the Other Side, was screened at multiple festivals and won several awards.

After exploring narrative cinema, he turned to documentary filmmaking. His documentary The Sidewalk, which focuses on underground street musicians, garnered awards and critical attention. He went on to make other documentaries, including The Arbaab, and later returned to fiction with the short film 12 O'Clock, which attracted strong interest from international festivals.

Sajad also gained festival attention as a screenwriter, particularly with the screenplay for Shopar. In addition to his independent films, he has directed music videos, industrial documentaries, and promotional teasers.

As a bold and independent filmmaker, Sajad has consistently worked on projects that challenge social and cinematic norms — films that cannot be screened or produced openly in Iran due to their themes. His voice as a filmmaker is deeply personal, politically aware, and artistically daring.

He is currently developing his first feature-length film with the same commitment to creative independence and fearless storytelling.