Sunless Shadows

Iran, Norway2019documentary74'Konkurs dokumentalny (2020)Laureaci festiwali (2021)

Seldom can one pass through the gate of an Iranian prison with a camera, in particular when it is a facility for women. The film characters are wives, daughters or sisters serving sentences for killing men – their family members. Some of them avoided death penalties only because of their young age. Their life behind bars, where they can study and have fun, is sometimes safer, freer and more interesting than the one they had at large. When presented with cameras, the characters record video letters to their families, including perpetrators and victims. In this way, they become co-authors of the film. Silver Horn at Krakow Film Festival.

directed by
Mehrdad Oskouei, portret reżysera
Mehrdad Oskouei

An Iranian filmmaker, producer, photographer and researcher born in Tehran in 1969. He graduated in film direction from the University of Arts. His films have been screened at numerous festivals both at home and abroad to great critical acclaim, making him one of the major Iranian documentary makers. In 2010 he received the Dutch Prince Claus Award for his achievements. He is a founding member of the Institute of Anthropology and Culture as well as being a cultural ambassador for the United Nation's humanitarian committee UCHA. For his latest documentary, “Sunless Shadows” Mehrdad received the jury award for the best directing at IDFA 2019 and ar Krakow Film Festival 2020.

cinematography
Mehdi Azadi
script
Mehrdad Oskouei
music
Afshin Azizi
sound
Mahmoud Khorsand, Parsa Karimi
editing
Amir Adibparvar
production
Mehrdad Oskouei (Oskouei Film Production), Carsten Aanonsen (Indie Film)
Photo
Kadr z filmu Sunless Shadows
Trailer