Cliff Edge. Dr. Ashkan the man behind the smiles

We are introduced to Ashkan, an unconventional dentist and battle-scarred visionary leading South Cliff Dental through rapid growth as he prepares to unveil a new headquarters.

Ashkan navigates through a dark and turbulent period marked by personal collapse, body dysmorphia, steroid abuse, and a professional investigation that threatens to end his career. As his life spirals toward despair, a timely phone call rekindles his passion for the arts and offers a glimmer of redemption, even as the lasting effects of his choices nearly cost him his life.We follow Ashkan's transformation as he embraces a clean lifestyle and champions a bold, disruptive vision for the future of dentistry.

  • Diego Barraza
    Director
  • Clive Martin
    Writer
  • Diego Barraza
    Producer
  • Ashkan Pitchforth
    Key Cast
  • Julien Pinault
    editor
  • Richard J Norris
    Composer
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 13 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    April 30, 2026
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    United Kingdom
  • Language:
    English
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable

  • United Kingdom
Director Biography - Diego Barraza

Diego Barraza Dominguez (El Salvador 1973) Producer, Director and Film-maker. Diego is the first El Salvador born director to be admitted to full membership to the professional association of screen directors of the United Kingdom, DirectorsUK. He is the founder of SaGuarda Studios Ltd., a premier production company and facility specializing in arts, culture and heritage films named the best bespoke film production company in Sussex three years in a row by the UK Enterprise Awards and SME Business News.

As a filmmaker, Diego Barraza has a keen interest in themes relating to identity in the periphery, diaspora, the global south, social justice, spirit and environment. He has produced, shot and directed fiction films, documentary long form, performance films, music promos, live events and promotional content and his work has taken him to many countries around the world.

Diego has participated in a plethora of international film festivals and competitions, to name a few, he won the 2019 Arri-DirectorsUK Trinity Challenge and was chosen in the yearly showreel showcase of Arri media; 2018 won Best Short Film Audience Award at the Tallahassee Film Festival and in the year 2000, he won the Mole & Richardson's Hollywood “Molennium Film Contest”. He has had film projects selected for support by the British Film Institute and his work has been aired and distributed internationally. His debut feature length documentary Part & Parcel: A Yoga Documentary Satsang was picked up for distribution in all major streaming platforms.

His experimental film Different trains, distant memories, played alongside a live performance of the music of Steve Reich featuring the Bergersen Quartet and premiered at the Brunel Museum in London. In still photography he has collaborated with La Vanguardia newspaper, El Temps magazine, A-10 New European Architecture magazine among others. His photography work on the earthquake that struck El Salvador in 2001 was showcased in a book published by the Barcelona City Council. Diego has also been involved in live shows, concerts and large summer festivals in various technical and creative positions and was for three years in a row the director of the Cadaqués, Costa Brava Latin America Film Cycle.

Diego has a Masters Degree in Documentary film-making from the University of Barcelona. He was invited in September 2011 by the United Nations Development Fund to deliver a new media workshop at the Young Indigenous Leaders of America Conference in Quito, Ecuador and by Cultural Survival International to teach Participatory Video to Mayan youth in Guatemala. Diego has recently taught film making workshops to UK youth with Focus Film School.

Diego currently lives in Sussex, South England.

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Director Statement

For this film, the challenge lies in crafting a story that captivates audiences who may not initially be drawn to dentistry or entrepreneurship. Our approach is to anchor the narrative in the personal journey of Dr. Ashkan Pichforth, inviting viewers to engage with an emotionally resonant story of universal relevance.
On the surface, the film could be seen as the tale of an ambitious dentist and his professional ascent. However, our goal is to create an impressionistic, non-judgmental, and multifaceted portrait of a singular individual — a human being navigating his highs, lows, and everything in between.
Rather than simply observing his success, we aim to draw the audience into the question of who Dr. Pichforth truly is: what drives him, what challenges him, and what he learns along the way. Through his perspective, the audience gets insider access in the evolving world of South Cliff Dental Group, a growing independent dental organization. In doing so, broader themes naturally emerge — leadership, work ethic, family, ambition, diversity, and identity — forming a rich and textured tapestry of the world he inhabits.
Ultimately, the film offers rare access to a private world — one that reveals the human complexity behind professional ambition and personal drive, a story of male fragility and personal tenacity.