Discover 17 Must-See Short Films at the 3rd Iranian Film Festival in New York!

Get ready for an exciting celebration of Iranian cinema at the Iranian Film Festival New York, taking place from January 29 to February 6 at the IFC Center. This year, the festival will showcase a remarkable lineup of 17 films from Iran, including 13 feature films and four short films. Organized in collaboration with Daricheh Cinema, this annual event aims to highlight the rich diversity and cultural narratives of Iranian filmmaking, as reported by Mehr.

The festival introduces a new section titled Hidden Gems from Iran, which will feature rare and lesser-seen films that provide a unique perspective on Iranian cinema. This initiative is set to captivate audiences and expand their understanding of the film industry.

The opening night will feature the U.S. premiere of Oktay Baraheni’s “The Old Bachelor”, a film that has garnered awards at prestigious venues like the Rotterdam and London film festivals. With its provocative storyline and stellar performances from acclaimed actors such as Leila Hatami, Hassan Pourshirazi, and Hamed Behdad, this film promises to be a highlight of the festival.

In addition to “The Old Bachelor,” attendees can look forward to several other films making their debut:

• World Premiere: “The Killer and the Savage” by Hamid Nematollah
• New York Premiere: “Junks & Dolls” by Manijeh Hekmat
• Oscar Submission: “In the Arms of the Tree” by Babak Khajehpasha, which represented Iran in the 2025 Oscars but did not make it to the final nominations.

This edition of the festival also places a spotlight on the celebrated actress Fatemeh Motamed-Arya, who will be present to showcase screenings of five of her films. The lineup includes new restorations of her collaborations with renowned filmmaker Mohsen Makhmalbaf:

• “Once Upon A Time, Cinema” (1992)
• “The Actor” (1993)
• “Avalanche” (2015) by Morteza Farshbaf
• “The Blue Veiled” (2019)
• “Once Upon A Time, Abadan” (2021) by Hamidreza Azarang (U.S. premiere)

Born in Tehran, the 63-year-old Motamed-Arya is a multi-award-winning actress whose career began in theater during her teenage years. She earned her degree in theater from the Tehran Art Institute and is regarded as one of the most influential figures in post-revolutionary Iranian cinema. Throughout her career, she has received ten nominations for the Best Actress award at the Fajr International Film Festival and has won the prestigious Crystal Simorgh four times.

In addition to her film career, Motamed-Arya is deeply involved in mental health advocacy. In 2020, she was appointed the “Ambassador of Mental Health” by the Iranian Scientific Association of Psychiatrists and the UNESCO Chair of Health Education. She is also the public face of the Iranian Diabetes Information Association and works with the Autism Association of Iran and Behnam Daheshpour charity. Furthermore, her commitment to social causes extends to her role as an ambassador for the Mahak Society, which supports children with cancer, the largest charity in Iran.

During a ceremony held in 2008 at the Niavaran Cultural Center, she was honored as the ambassador of the Mehrafarin Charity Society, as well as the World Food Program (WFP).

Other notable Iranian feature films included in the festival are:

• “Atomic Heart” by Ali Ahmadzadeh
• “Facing the Rook” by Sam Kalantari
• “A Hairy Tale” by Homayoun Ghanizadeh

Festival attendees will also have the opportunity to enjoy a selection of short films, which include:

• “The Route” written and directed by Babak Beigi
• “Ms. Iran’s Husband” by Marjan Khosravi
• “The Last Whinny of a Horse that Had Dreamt of Becoming a Butterfly” by Mahdie Mohammadi
• “Anita Lost in News” written and directed by Behzad Nalbandi

As the festival approaches its conclusion, the Closing Night Film will be “Cause of Death: Unknown,” directed by Ali Zarnegar, who recently won an award at the Shanghai International Film Festival 2023.

With such a diverse and captivating lineup, the Iranian Film Festival New York promises to be an extraordinary celebration of Iranian cinema, showcasing talent and stories that resonate with audiences worldwide.