Emruz Festival presents short film screenings created by Iranian & Iranian - American filmmakers: Mehrnoush Alia, Maryam Ataei, Julia Elihu, and Shadi Ghaheri.
"Faranak"
Written and directed by Mehnoush Alia.
A dog that is stuck in the middle of her owner’s divorce finds an unlikely friendship with an Uber driver.
Mehrnoush Alia is a filmmaker and playwright from Tehran. Her debut short film “Scheherazade” won several awards at festivals such as Champs-Elysées Film Festival. She graduated from Columbia University with an MFA in Screenwriting and holds a B.A. in Film Studies and Comparative Literature from UC Berkeley. “Faranak” is her second short film that won the Enderby Fellowship at Austin Film Festival. She recently launched an interactive documentary SangSaboor about domestic violence in Iran that she wrote and co-produced. Mehrnoush is an alumna of Berlin Talent Campus 2020.
"Winter of 79"
Directed by Julia Elihu, based on a true story
At the onset of the 1979 Iranian Revolution, a Persian-Jewish mother is forced to question her faith to her country. Based on a true story.
Julia Elihu is an Iranian-American writer and director who strives to tell untold stories through her own rosey perspective. So often, it is the culmination of intimate moments and subtle shifts in personhood that shape us into who we are. Julia aims to document the intricacies and vibrancy of everyday life in each piece she touches; whether that be through capturing glimpses of humanity in her commercial work, or exploring both the grit and wonder that comes with life through her narrative films.
Julia’s love for her Iranian culture inspires her to create and pushes her to tell stories from a unique perspective. In 2018, she brought these themes to her short film YASAMIN, which is based on her mother’s story of immigration and was a Grand Jury Prize Nominee at the 2018 AFI Film Festival. More recently, she produced a short documentary titled TEAM MERYLAND which was acquired by The New Yorker and PBS' POV Shorts Program. Julia's latest short film, Winter of '79, had it's World Premiere at the Oscar-Qualifying Rhode Island International Film Festival, and its West Coast Premiere at the Oscar-Qualifying Hollyshorts Film Festival. When it comes to commercial work, Julia has worked with a range of clients from El Camino Health, to Our/LA Vodka, to Tinder, to Nike X Togethxr. In the future, Julia hopes to tell more stories that remind us to savor those little beauties of life. The small victories.
"The Appointment"
Directed by Maryam Ataei
Nicki is under pressure to conform to what society expects of a woman.
"Swimming"
directed by Shadi Ghaheri written by Sam Dash
Jade hasn't been home in years. His best friend, Harry, never left. As they reunit at their childhood beach, how much can this friendship hold?
Shadi Ghaheri is a theatre and Film director, choreographer and writer from Tehran, Iran based in New York City. She graduated from Yale School of Drama with a MFA in Directing. She has directed Banned, (Broadway Bound), Glimpse (Rattlestick),Mother Courage (Hunter College), Tosca Tehran (Rough Draft), Fen (Columbia University), Untitled (Rattlestick Theatre), Lucretia (HERE), Last Days of Judas Iscariot (Williams College), Shahr-e-Farang (Spectrum NYC), The Girl is Chained, Death of Yazdgerd, Titus Andronicus, and choreographed Passion (Yale School of Drama), The Slow Sound of Snow and a trio devised movement pieces named, فریادا, Butterfly’s Terror, and Post Scream and Terror with all-female company (Yale Cabaret).