Private Project

Friend

Emad, a 12-year-old boy, lives in a room near the sea with his wooden doll. Mahan, Emad's friend, sneaks into Emad's room and, out of jealousy, tries to claim the doll for himself. The doll becomes fond of Mahan, and Mahan takes Emad's place in the room. One night, Emad decides to leave his room forever.

  • Rana Safiyari
    Director
  • Rana Safiyari
    Writer
  • Rana Safiyari
    Producer
  • Moeid Asoudeh
    Key Cast
    "Emad"
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Drama
  • Runtime:
    14 minutes 2 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    October 7, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    2,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Iran, Islamic Republic of
  • Country of Filming:
    Iran, Islamic Republic of
  • Language:
    Persian
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    1.85:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Rana Safiyari

Born in 7th Nov 1995 in Tehran, Iran.
Graduated in Drama & Dramatic literature in Tehran Soore Art University.
Passed a course of film making in Hilaj Film School for one year.
Trained by Amirshahab Razavian, Majid Barzegar, Saeed Aghighi, Hooman Behmanesh, Hassan Hassandoost, Saeed Ghotbizadeh.
Passed directing course with Shahram Mokri in Bamdad International Art House of Asghar Farhadi.

Made first professional short film called “Tonight” in 2016:

Received approval in 36th International Fajr film festival Residence Course in Iran.
Received approval to interview in a workshop admiring Abbas Kiarostami in Karnameh Art & Culture Institute.
Received approval in the 8th Independent short film event of Cinema House.
Received approval in the 6th International Urban film festival.
Received approval in 11th Sayeh short film festival.
Received approval in 15th Tassvir film festival.
Received approval in 13th Razavi short film festival in Yazd.
Received approval in 1st Health short film festival in Isfahan.
Received approval in FICAE Spain International film festival.
Received approval in the International Women film festival in Harat.
Nominated for the best actress “Fariba Khademi” in Sayeh Short film festival.
Appeared in many short films as a Screenwriter, an Assistant director, an Actress, Photographer and Script supervisor.

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Director Statement

"You must lose in order to gain." The fear of losing oneself is more terrifying than losing. During my adolescence in school, I fell in love with my classmate. In Iran, girls and boys study separately in schools, and most of the time, we experience love with our own gender during puberty, and it's a taboo in Iran. I thought I had committed a great sin. By wearing clothes like hers and behaving like her, I tried to get her attention. One day I realized that she had fallen in love with another girl.

Overcoming the trauma, I was suffering from, I have always been imagining myself in love with a non-human beloved. In this short film I tried to picture my world as close as what it was in my head.