Somewhere to Stay

Concealing a devastating secret about his daughter, a father has told everyone that she is missing, while pretending to search for her alongside his son. They venture into an abandoned forest to ensure the secrecy remains hidden. The son, unable to bear the burden of this concealed truth any longer and weary of his father’s behavior and beliefs, takes a step that profoundly impacts their family’s life.

  • Amirhossein Hatami
    Director
  • Amirhossein Hatami
    Writer
  • Mahsa Talebi
    Writer
  • Amirhossein Hatami
    Producer
  • Mohammad amir Maboodi
    Producer
  • Iman Hajazimian
    Key Cast
    "Rashid"
  • Mehdi Sanaati
    Key Cast
    "Kazem"
  • Parisa Malekmahmoodi
    Key Cast
    "Reyhaneh"
  • Azita Fallahnejad
    Key Cast
    "Iran"
  • Hossein Baghban
    Director of photography
  • Hesam Dezfouli
    First Assistant Director
  • Farid Hosseini
    Editor
  • Hassan Shabankareh
    Sound Recordist
  • Meisam Riahi
    Sound Editor & Mixer
  • Farbod Shirmohammad
    Composer
  • Laleh Noureddin Mousa
    Costume Design
  • Chista Jamshidian
    Make-Up Artist
  • Negin Heydari
    Colorist
  • Hesam Dezfouli
    Production Manager
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    جایی برای ماندن
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    15 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    January 30, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    6,500 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Iran, Islamic Republic of
  • Country of Filming:
    Iran, Islamic Republic of
  • Language:
    Persian
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • The Montecatini International Short Film Festival
    Montecatini
    Italy
    October 16, 2023
    Official Selection
  • Marbella International Film Festival
    Marbella
    Spain
    October 4, 2023
    Official Selection
  • Black Bear Film Festival
    Milford, Pennsylvania
    United States
    October 13, 2023
    Official Selection
  • Utopia Film Festival
    Greenbelt, MD
    United States
    October 20, 2023
    Official Selection
  • Ealing Film Festival
    London
    United Kingdom
    November 13, 2023
    Official selection
  • Various Artists Independent Film Festival
    Chicago, Illinois
    United States
    October 27, 2023
    Best Foreign Film Nominee
Director Biography - Amirhossein Hatami

Amirhossein Hatami is a multifaceted artist born on July 18, 1993 in Iran. With a diverse background, he holds a master degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Tehran (graduated in 2019) and a diploma in Filmmaking from the Hilaj Film School (graduated in 2020). In January 2023, Amirhossein directed his first short film and has since been involved as an editor and assistant in various projects. In addition to his filmmaking endeavors, he is an accomplished pianist with a performance history spanning over 30 piano recitals since 2010. Amirhossein Hatami's extensive experience in both film and music fuels his passion for creating and sharing artistic works with the filmmaking community and art enthusiasts worldwide.

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Director Statement

Oppression, war, discrimination, and extremism have always existed throughout history, causing many young people to lose their lives and dreams due to these issues. In some parts of the world, including Iran, young people’s lives are greatly influenced by the imposition of religious beliefs and traditions. This becomes even more painful when we witness spiritual and psychological torture inflicted on them by their families.

Every year, many girls in our land become victims of false beliefs imposed by their families and society, losing their lives in the process. Men, rulers, and fathers who allow ending the lives of these girls solely because they wish to live differently. These unjust men often commit heinous acts under the false guise of holiness, stemming from a misguided understanding of religion, leading to the destruction of their daughters’ lives. Is there a greater crime than honor killing?

The pain and suffering caused by these bitter events, which recur every year, have compelled me to create a film about this issue and make others aware of the painful conditions that dominate the lives of innocent girls in our land. I hope for a day when everyone can live freely according to their beliefs and have somewhere to stay.