For the winter edition, we come back with a shorts programme '
Beyond Borders. Innovative shorts by Iranian Artists' curated by Marzieh Rasekh and Baran Sedighian. 'Beyond Borders' explores diverse, untold stories with a joyful, self-affirming, and creative view. Through films, workshops and talks, the programme sheds light on the unique narrative and visual expressions of Iranian creators who use their art to advocate for social justice and facilitate intercultural dialogue and coalitional thinking.
The film selection explores serious themes like war, trauma, migration and women's rights while deploying humour, imagination, personal experiences and childhood memories to reflect on these issues, thus, making it universally relatable. Through innovative techniques like stop-motion and mixed media, these films push the boundaries of visual storytelling and offer a fresh perspective on life beyond borders.
The programme consists of 7 short films and will be screened at Cavia (11.01), Kino (22.01), de Uitkijk (29.01), FOCUS(5.02), and WORM (19.02).
Join us for a Q&A with Sara Rajaei after the screening in Cavia and a poetry performance before the screening in de Uitkijk, Amsterdam and WORM, Rotterdam!
Join us for AMN Kids Workshop: Yalda-Night in Stop-Motion Animation.
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Asian Movie Night Kids Workshop:
Yalda-Night in Stop Motion Animation
5-12 years | English, Dutch | 3 euro material cost | Registration required, Parents welcome
Workshop 1:
Saturday, 11 January 2025
14:00–15:30
Filmhuis Cavia, Amsterdam
@filmhuiscaviaWorkshop 2:
Wednesday, 29 January 2025
15:00–17:30
De Boomsspijker Dock, Amsterdam
@boomsspijkerOur Stop Motion Workshop invites children from all backgrounds to dive into a creative adventure. They’ll bring the Yalda Night tradition to life by crafting greeting post scenes from cardboard, clay, and even snacks like pomegranates and watermelons! Through stop-motion, these treats come alive, turning Yalda’s warmth and spirit of togetherness into a playful, immersive experience. This workshop isn’t about strict instruction—it’s all about exploring, imagining, and connecting with new stories and each other.
Workshop Instructors: Marzieh Rasekh & Minhong Yu.
register here
Poetry Perfromance by Honey Kazerooni at De Uitkijk, Amsterdam
In this poetry performance artist Honey Kazerooni combines sound, meaning and visual artistry to bridge cultural gaps and showcase the beauty of Persian poetry. You will hear poems by Persian Icons like Rumi and Hafez in original Persian and then in English, accompanied by sounds and visuals with Persian calligraphy and minimalist designs.
Persian poetry has historically carried a profound cultural and artistic weight. During times when many forms of art were banned in Iran, poetry became a vessel for artistic expression, embedding elements of visual, musical, and literary art within its verses. This resilience has made Persian poetry not only a form of literature but also a significant cultural artifact. In this Poetry Performance, I want to present how Persian poetry was carrying different arts in itself.
PROGRAM of CAVIA Amsterdam
Friday 11.01.2025
19:00 - 19:05 Intro (5’)
19:05 - 20:35 Screening
20:35 - 21:10 QnA with Sara Rajaei
21:10 End
TICKETS
€5,- / Cineville card free
It’s not possible to make reservations. Tickets can be bought at the bar half an hour before the film starts.
CAVIA
PROGRAM of KINO Rotterdam
Wednesday 22.01.2024
19:00 - 19:05 Intro (5’)
19:05 - 20:35 Screening
20:35 End
TICKETS
€13.20 (CJP/Student €10.00)
Cineville card free
KINO
PROGRAM of
De Uitkijk
Amsterdam
Wednesday 29.01.2024
19:00 - 19:05 Intro (5’)
19:05 - 19:25 Poetry performance by Honey Kazerooni
19:25 - 20:55 Screening
20:35 End
TICKETS
€12,50 (CJP/Student 10,-) / Cineville card free
De Uitkijk
PROGRAM of FOCUS Arnhem
Wednesday 05.02.2024
19:00 - 19:05 Intro (5’)
19:05 - 20:35 Screening
20:35 End
TICKETS
€12.00 (Student €8.00)
Cineville card free
Focus
PROGRAM of WORM, Rotterdam
Wednesday 19.02.2025
20:30 - 20:35 Opening (5’)
20:35 - 21:45 Screening
21:45 - 22:00 Poetry performance
22:00 - 22:20 Screening
22:20 End
TICKETS
€10.00
Cineville card free
WORM
ABOUT
Participating artists
Honey Kazerooni, born in Australia and originally from Iran, currently lives in Belgium. She holds a master’s in Interior Architecture from Hasselt University and is pursuing Graphic Design at PXL School of Arts. A seasoned cellist, she performed with the Tehran Symphony Orchestra under renowned conductors. Currently, she merges her expertise in design and music into her professional practice.
Curators
Marzieh Rasekh -
talented 2D animator/Illustrator from Iran, Marzieh combines traditional animation styles with digital techniques. Her animations "More" (2018) and "Let's Play" (2023) have garnered nominations and selections at various festivals.
Baran Sedighian - Iranian filmmaker and producer, Baran immigrated to the Netherlands in 2022 to pursue her second Master's in Animation. Her graduation animation, "The Deer," has been selected for multiple prestigious festivals. Currently, she is also working on her next animation and completing a film producer fellowship.
Supported by Gemeente Arnhem,
Het Cultuur Fond, AFK, Fonds voor West, Fonds voor Centrum
Red Dress. No Straps
Maryam mohajer | IR, UK | 8’ | 2018 | EN
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1985. Tehran. Iran-Iraq war. For ‘Marmar’ it is another ordinary afternoon at the grandparents’. The echo of ‘Death to America’ chants from the morning school assembly mixes with ‘The Voice of America’; grandad’s favourite radio program. Marmar is waiting for granny to make her a dress exactly the same as the glamorous American Popstar; Bright red. No straps.
BAFTA Winner 2020.
Maryam Mohajer is an Iranian-British animator/director/writer based in London. She is an RCA graduate with a background in painting.
Noon - The Bread of Tehran
Roshanak Roshan | IR, FR | 20’ | 2024 | FA with EN subtitles
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I leave Tehran Airport. My suitcase is full of souvenirs from Iran, including small bits of bread. I take them, look at them, and smell them. Why do I bring bread from Iran? In my mind, I follow the events that have affected this "human being": Revolution, war, and modernisation.
After studying Puppet theater at the Tehran Fine Arts School in Iran,
Roshanak Roshan came to France in 2007. She studied at the ENSAV (Ecole nationale supérieure d’audiovisuel) in Toulouse. Her experiences as a puppeteer and film director led her to discover the world of animation.
Sorry For Staring at Me
Hanieh Hemmati | year | IR | 4’ | FA with EN subtitles
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A girl with social anxiety shares her life in a self-portrait film. Unable to speak in front of others, she asks her best friend to speak for her as she takes us through moments where she felt watched and unable to live a normal life.
Hanieh Hemmati
is an Iranian animation artist based in Tehran. She works primarily in 2D digital and hand-drawn animation, focusing on personal storytelling and experimental styles. She holds a Master’s degree in Directing Animation and a Bachelor’s in Architectural Design. Her student film, Sorry for Staring at Me, a self-portrait animation, was selected for the ASIFA Student Award
This is Mine
Maryam Kashkoolinia | IR | 2012 | 6' |
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After wars landmines remain, still patiently hunting their prey…
Maryam Kashkoolinia is a celebrated animation director known for her Stop-motions. Her films have graced the screens of prestigious festivals such as Annecy and Zagreb, earning accolades both nationally and internationally. Notably, Kashkoolinia's contributions extend beyond her creative endeavors; she has played pivotal roles on festival committees and served as a distinguished jury member at events like the Annecy Animation Festival in 2017. Currently, Kashkoolinia continues to create captivating animations while also teaching and inspiring the next generation of artists.
Our Uniform
Yegane Moghaddam | IR | 7’ | 2023 | FA with EN subs
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An Iranian girl unfolds her school memories on the wrinkles and fabrics of her old uniform.
Yegane Moghaddam is an Iranian animator and illustrator who has a strong passion for nature, culture and the reality she lives in. Currently, she is based in L.A working on her new animated projects.
The Fourth Wall
Mahboobeh Kalaee | 2021 | IR | 10’ | EN subs
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A family kitchen becomes very lively when seen through the eyes of a young boy with a vivid imagination.
Mahboobeh Kalaee is an Iranian 2D animator, writer, illustrator, graphic designer, and director of several short and experimental animations.
In the Gaze of Panoptes
Sara Rajaei | IR, NL | 2016 | 22’| EN
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Following his seven-year-old lucid dream, the protagonist transforms from a city man to a caveman, taking refuge in nature and becoming the perfect observer of light... the watchman... Panoptes, the giant with one hundred eyes.
Sara Rajaei is an Iranian/Dutch video artist and filmmaker in The Netherlands.
In her work, she studies the notion of time by reflecting on the absence of image, memory psychology, oral history, narrative techniques, and physical/psychological space. Her artistic oeuvre consists of short films and video installations, which remain between storytelling and imagery.
