Phiring Squad in Iran*DOC
This compelling documentary revisits the haunting 1980 Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph "Firing Squad in Iran." Through interviews with witnesses of the tragic event, including a survivor who narrowly escaped the fate captured in the photo, the film offers a powerful exploration of memory, resilience, and the enduring impact of a single, iconic image.
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Reza SalehiniaDirector
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Reza SalehiniaWriter
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REZA SalehiniaProducer
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Project Type:Documentary, Short
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Runtime:9 minutes 42 seconds
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Completion Date:September 20, 2024
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Production Budget:400 USD
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Country of Origin:Canada
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Country of Filming:Canada
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Language:English, Kurdish
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Shooting Format:Digital
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:Yes
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Student Project:Yes - Toronto Film School
Reza Salehinia is a filmmaker based in Toronto and a December 2024 graduate of the Toronto Film School’s Film Production program. Reza’s work spans diverse genres, from the darkly humorous Me, Kyle, and Pavlov's Dog, a short film exploring psychological paradoxes, to Phiring Squad, a documentary capturing the nuanced realities of life in Iran. Currently, Reza is directing Logos, a horror short delving into existential dread and folklore.
With experience as a director, Key Grip, and actor across multiple short films, Reza brings a collaborative and versatile approach to filmmaking. Passionate about crafting stories that resonate both intellectually and emotionally, Reza continues to push creative boundaries in storytelling.
As a filmmaker, I am fascinated by the power of images to evoke profound emotions and insights. My documentary, Phiring Squad, was inspired by Roland Barthes' philosophical exploration of photography, particularly his concepts of studium and punctum.
Barthes describes stadium as the cultural, historical, and intellectual context that informs how we understand a photograph, while punctum refers to the deeply personal, piercing detail that unexpectedly captivates the viewer and transcends meaning.
In Phiring Squad, I sought to balance these two aspects by presenting the historical and political context of a Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph of a firing squad in Iran (the studium) alongside deeply personal testimonies from witnesses and survivors (the punctum). My goal was to not only document history but to create a visceral connection between the audience and the individuals whose lives were forever changed by the moment captured in that frame.
Through this documentary, I hope to demonstrate how a single image can hold layers of meaning—at once a historical record and an emotional trigger—and to invite viewers to reflect on the interplay between memory, truth, and humanity.