Private Project

CHAI

CHAI is about two 30 something “naturalized” friends in Los Angeles, navigating womanhood, identity and social norms. Eli, a wanna be comedian, receives the news on her birthday that she has premature menopause. She shares the news with her friend Milana over tea.

  • Mehrnaz Mohammadi
    Director
  • Mehrnaz Mohammadi
    Writer
  • Aliona Podkolzina
    Producer
  • Mehrnaz Mohammadi
    Key Cast
    "Eli"
  • Aliona Podkolzina
    Key Cast
    "Milana"
  • ENRY PEYRE
    Key Cast
    "Hamlet"
  • Project Type:
    Short, Web / New Media
  • Runtime:
    7 minutes 3 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 30, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    2,500 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Los Angeles Film Awards
    Los Angeles
    United States
    Semi-Finalist
  • Swedish International Film Festival
    Arvika
    Sweden
    Nominee
  • D.I.Y. Film Fest + Emotional Freedom Lab (Shorts Spring 2023)
    Long Beach
    United States
    April 4, 2023
    North American Premier
    Official Selection
  • Los Angeles Lift-Off Film Festival
    Los Angeles
    United States
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Mehrnaz Mohammadi

Mehrnaz Mohammadi is an Iranian filmmaker based in Los Angeles. In 2007, she moved to Montreal from Iran, where she got her BFA in Theatre Performance from Concordia University. In 2014, she moved to Los Angeles to pursue her Master of Fine Arts in Acting from The University of Southern California. She made her first short film in 2015 when she traveled to Iran for the last time. Her latest work includes a narrative short film ThisHonest and a short documentary, In Memory of Andrei Belgrader 1946-2022. She also has worked as an editor on the web series Stuck in Development. Part of Mehrnaz’s love for filmmaking is having the privilege of freedom to create without any censorship and share her work with the world.

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Director Statement

CHAI takes a humorous look at the challenges faced by two women in their 30s. The difficulties of navigating life as a modern woman are not to be underestimated. Both characters in the film also happen to be immigrants, although that is not a central theme. Often, immigrants are portrayed in media only in their immigration status. However, it's important to recognize that many immigrants lead normal lives and face the same struggles as non-immigrants.

Through this film, I aim to shed light on the everyday challenges that women face and to celebrate the strength and resilience of the female spirit. I believe that these stories have the power to inspire and connect us, and I hope that CHAI will serve as a reminder of the incredible journeys that women undertake every day. Whether it's overcoming personal obstacles or tackling societal and political pressures, I believe that women's experiences deserve to be seen, heard, and celebrated on the big screen.