Director-actor Mahnaz Mohammadi, an outspoken critic of the Iranian government, made headlines in India when she sent a lock of her hair to the International Film Festival of Kerala in 2022. This was a snub to the stringent hijab laws in her country and a show of solidarity with the Women, Life, Freedom movement. In February, shortly after the Iranian state massacred thousands of protestors, Mohammadi's film, Roya, made its debut at the Berlin Film Festival. The dramatic feature film about a political prisoner draws heavily from Mohammadi's own experience in Iran's notorious Evin prison.
Currently living in exile, Mohammadi reflects on the war unfolding in Iran and why filmmakers keep cameras rolling in the face of risk. She shares her thoughts on the intense communication blockade, the impact of violence on art and culture, and the importance of sustained awareness and solidarity from the international community.
Mohammadi's films are banned in Iran, but she managed to shoot Roya secretly. She believes that stories still matter, even when a film cannot be shown openly. In Iran, there has always been a strong culture of sharing films privately, through small gatherings or digital circulation.
When asked about her hope for the people of Iran, especially women, Mohammadi says that her hope is that their courage will continue to shape the future of Iran. She recalls the image of women cutting their hair and placing it in the earth, under the bodies of their loved ones who were killed. It is a quiet act of mourning and resistance that no authority and no dictatorship can erase.
