Iranian Documentaries Shine at the 56th Visions du Réel: Meet the Esteemed Jurors

At the heart of the 56th Visions du Réel festival in Nyon, Switzerland, three remarkable Iranian documentaries are capturing the attention of audiences and critics alike. This prestigious event showcases innovative storytelling and cultural perspectives, and this year, it features films that challenge societal norms and explore the resilience of the human spirit.

The Iranian documentaries participating at the festival include:

• “Cutting Through Rocks” by Mohammadreza Eyni and Sara Khaki
• “Within the Sun” by Sepideh Jamshidi Nejad
• “Higher Than Acidic Clouds” by Ali Asgari

Additionally, two esteemed Iranian jurors, Elaheh Nobakht and Mohammad Rezaeian, are serving on the jury, contributing their expertise to the festival’s various sections, as reported by Honaronline.

“Cutting Through Rocks” tells the inspiring story of Sara Shahverdi, the first elected councilwoman of her village. Sara is determined to challenge entrenched patriarchal traditions by empowering teenage girls to ride motorcycles and combat child marriages. However, as she faces accusations that question her intentions, her identity and mission become increasingly tumultuous.

This engaging documentary is a joint production involving multiple countries, including Iran, Germany, the U.S., Qatar, the Netherlands, Chile, and Canada. Spanning 94 minutes, it has already garnered significant acclaim, winning the World Cinema Documentary Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival.

“Within the Sun” offers a poignant glimpse into the lives of six elderly women who work seasonally in a remote salt mine. Despite their hands and faces bearing the marks of years spent in labor, their resolve remains unwavering. This 28-minute film paints a collective portrait of resilience, highlighting the daily rhythms of these women’s lives and how their harsh environment influences their existence and spirit.

In contrast, “Higher Than Acidic Clouds” presents a surreal journey through the mind of a filmmaker grappling with his life’s work. As apocalyptic clouds loom over the city, threatening to extinguish his creative rebellion, he embarks on an imaginative exploration of his artistic identity.

During this year’s festival, notable film professionals have been invited to bestow awards on filmmakers whose works stand out for their ambition and originality.

Elaheh Nobakht, a respected producer in Iranian cinema, is recognized for her achievements in international film production and distribution. She serves as a juror in the National section of Visions du Réel. Nobakht’s impressive portfolio includes:

• Seven feature films
• Two short films

Her films have received accolades at prestigious festivals, including:

• Berlinale (2023 and 2022)
• IDFA (2022 and 2020)
• Hot Docs (2021)
• ZagrebDox (2021)

Notable works include “Dreams’ Gate”, “The Apple Day”, “Silent House”, and “Holy Bread”. She also played a significant role in distributing “Finding Farideh”, which was Iran’s official Oscar entry in 2020. Nobakht has served on juries at various international film festivals and has received numerous accolades, including the Producers Network Prize for Promising Young Producers at the Cannes Marché du Film in 2022. In 2025, she was selected as a Berlinale Talent.

As the CEO of ELI Image since 2018, Nobakht is instrumental in promoting global film production and distribution. She is also a board member of the Iranian Producers Association (IPA) and a member of the Iranian Documentary Producers Association (AOIDP). Currently, she is collaborating on four feature films with partners from France, Norway, and Germany.

Joining her as a juror is Mohammad Rezaeian, who serves on the jury panel for the festival’s Interreligious section. Rezaeian, who was born in Tehran and raised in Berlin and Bern, has a background in law and business administration. He acts as a cultural bridge-builder, working as an intercultural translator, lawyer, and project manager to foster connections among diverse cultures.

His work focuses on economic analysis, legal implementation, and culturally sensitive strategies for entering new markets. With a passion for literature and film that balances the rationalism of Descartes with the poetic nuances of Rumi, Rezaeian aims to deepen his understanding of various cultures and facilitate cross-cultural dialogue.

Visions du Réel (Visions of Reality) is a prominent documentary film festival held annually in April in Nyon, Switzerland. Established in 1969 as the Nyon International Documentary Film Festival, it was renamed in 1995 and has since become the largest documentary festival in Switzerland. Over the past five decades, Visions du Réel has showcased daring and unique works that reflect various aspects of reality.

For ten days, this vibrant festival transforms Nyon into a hub for filmmakers and artists from around the globe, creating a loyal audience eager to discover new stories. Recognized as a leading festival dedicated to non-fiction filmmaking, it predominantly features world and international premieres, serving as a vital platform for the thousands of film professionals who converge there each year.

This year’s edition of the festival commenced on April 4 and will conclude on April 13, culminating in the announcement of various award winners.