Private Project

The Badger

LOGLINE: “The Badger” is the story of a 40-year-old woman called Soodeh Sharifzadegan who faces a strange incident, right before her second marriage.

SYNOPSIS: Right before Soodeh Sharifzadegan’s second marriage, her 11-year-old son, “Matiar” is kidnapped. After considerable effort, Soodeh is forced to ask for the ransom money from her ex-husband, “Peyman”. After Matiar’s release, Soodeh, being curious, comes to the sudden realization that it was all her son’s plan to provide the grounds for his father’s return.

  • Kazem Mollaie
    Director
    KUPAL
  • Kazem Mollaie
    Writer
    KUPAL
  • Sina Saeidian
    Producer
  • VISHKA ASAYESH
    Key Cast
    "Soodeh Sharifzadegan"
    No Men Allowed
  • HASAN MAJUNI
    Key Cast
    "Peyman Jenabi"
    Pig
  • MEHRAVEH SHARIFINIA
    Key Cast
    "Afra"
  • BEHNOOSH BAKHTIARI
    Key Cast
    "Mahindokht"
  • GOHAR KHEIRANDISH
    Key Cast
    "Auntie Afsoon"
  • REZA BEHBUDI
    Key Cast
    "Sirus Sharifzadegan"
  • Project Type:
    Feature
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 33 minutes 30 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    July 27, 2020
  • Country of Origin:
    Iran, Islamic Republic of
  • Country of Filming:
    Iran, Islamic Republic of
  • Language:
    Persian
  • Shooting Format:
    ARRI ALEXA
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.35:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • 23rd. Shanghai International Film Festival 2020
    Shanghai
    China
    World Premiere
    Nominated for the "BEST FILM" [Asian New Talent Award]
  • 27th. Austin Film Festival 2020
    Austin
    United States
    North American Premiere
    Best Narrative Feature Film & nominated for the Audience Award
  • 5th. KineNova International Film Festival 2020
    Skopje
    Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of
    Nominated for the "Grand Prix"
  • 6th. BangkokThai International Film Festival 2020
    Bangkok
    Thailand
    Best Fiction Feature Film
  • 29th. Berkeley Film Festival 2020
    Berkeley
    United States
    California Premiere
    Best Foreign Feature & Audience Award
  • 13th. The Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival 2020
    Philadelphia
    United States
    Philadelphia Premiere
    Audience Award (Honorable Mention) & Nominated for the Best Narrative Feature
  • 15th. Hamilton Film Festival - Canadian Film Market 2020
    Hamilton
    Canada
    Canada Premiere
    Nominated for the Best Feature Film
  • 10th. Weyauwega International Film Festival 2020
    Weyauwega
    United States
    Wisconsin Premiere
    Best Foreign Language Film
  • 7th. Derby Film Festival 2020
    Derby
    United Kingdom
    UK Premiere
    Nominated for the Best Feature Film
  • 15th. Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival 2020
    Yogyakarta
    Indonesia
    Indonesia Premiere
    NETPAC selection
  • 9th. Persian International Film Festival 2020
    Sydney
    Australia
    Australia Premiere
    Nominated for the Best Feature Film
  • 74th. Salerno International Film Festival 2020
    Salerno
    Italy
    Italy Premiere
    Nominated for the Best Feature Film
  • 17th. Bahamas International Film Festival 2021
    Nassau
    Bahamas
    Caribbean Premiere
    New Visions Competition
  • 13th. Sofia MENAR Film Festival 2021
    Sofia
    Bulgaria
    Bulgaria Premiere
    Official Selection (Non-competitive festival)
  • 13th. Jaipur International Film Festival 2021
    Jaipur
    India
    Indian Premiere
    Nominated for the Best Film
  • 19th. Dhaka international film festival 2021
    Dhaka
    Bangladesh
    Bangladesh Premiere
    Nominated for the Audience Award [Cinema of the World Section]
  • 6th. Caribbean Sea International Film Festival 2021
    Nueva Esparta
    Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of
    Best Drama Feature Film
  • 5th. Prospector International Film Festival 2021
    Ridgefield
    United States
    Best Thriller Feature Film
  • 6th. Las Cruces International Film Festival 2021
    Las Cruces
    United States
    Official Selection
  • 21st. Fargo Film Festival 2021
    Fargo
    United States
    Honorable Mention of Best Narrative Feature
  • 1st. One People International Film Festival 2021
    Cape Town
    South Africa
    African Premiere
    Nominated for the Best Feature Film
  • 19th. Riverside International Film Festival 2021
    Riverside
    United States
    Best Feature Film, Best Actress (Vishka Asayesh), Best Ensemble Cast and Audience Best Feature
  • 23rd. Maryland Film Festival 2021
    Baltimore
    United States
    Official Selection (Non-competitive festival)
  • 9th. Winchester Film Festival 2021
    Winchester
    United Kingdom
    Nominated for the Best Feature Film
  • 8th. The Fine Arts Film Festival 2021
    Venice, California
    United States
    Nominated for the Best Narrative Feature Film
  • 5th. Portoviejo Film Festival 2021
    Portoviejo
    Ecuador
    Nominated for the International Fiction Feature Film Award
  • 6th. Barnes Film Festival 2021
    London
    United Kingdom
    Official Selection
  • 11th. Queens World Film Festival 2021
    Jackson Heights
    United States
    Nominated for the Best Audience Award (Narrative Features) and Best Female Actor (Vishka Asayesh)
  • 19th. Ischia Global Film Festival 2021
    Ischia
    Italy
    Official Selection
  • 6th. REALTIME INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2021
    Lagos
    Nigeria
    Best Cinematographer (Majid Gorjian) and Nominated for the Best Festival Themed Film
  • 4th. Swindon Independent (International) Film Festival 2021
    Swindon
    United Kingdom
    Best Feature Film and Nominated for the Best Production Designer (Monir Razizadeh)
  • 25th. Avanca Film Festival 2021
    Avanca
    Portugal
    Nominated for the Best Trailer in Motion Prize (Kazem Mollaie)
  • 29th. Chichester International Film Festival 2021
    Chichester
    United Kingdom
    Nominated for the Best Audience Award in the INDEPENDENT CINEMA category
  • 15th. Five Lakes Film Festival 2021 (Fünf Seen Film Festival)
    Munich
    Germany
    Germany Premiere
    Nominated for the Best Film [BEST OF FESTIVAL - PUBLIC AWARD SECTION]
  • 7th. The Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival 2021
    Leicester
    United States
    Nominated for the Best Feature Film
  • 29th. Love is folly Film Festival 2021
    Varna
    Bulgaria
    PANORAMA (Non-competitive section)
  • 18th. Salento International Film Festival 2021
    Tricase
    Italy
    Nominated for the Best Feature Film
  • 26th. Split Film Festival 2021
    Split
    Croatia
    Forum (Non-competitive section)
  • 14th. Arizona Underground Film Festival 2021
    Tucson
    United States
    Nominated for the Best Narrative Feature
  • 14th. Annual Iranian Film Festival - San Francisco 2021
    San Francisco
    United States
    Nominated for the Best Feature Film
  • 37th. Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival 2021
    Los Angeles
    United States
    Special Jury Award for Acting (Vishka Asayesh) and Nominated for the Best Narrative Feature Film
  • 10th. Winter Film Awards International Film Festival 2021
    New York
    United States
    Best Indie Pix Award, Best Actress (Vishka Asayesh) & nominated for the Best Picture and Best Director
  • 10th. Global Nonviolent Film Festival 2021

    United States
    Best Feature Film & Best Screenplay (Kazem Mollaie)
  • 6th. Calella Film Festival 2021
    Calella
    Spain
    Spain Premiere
    Best Screenwriter (Kazem Mollaie), Best Actress (Vishka Asayesh) & nominated for the Best Film [Low Budget Section]
  • 15th. Buffalo International Film Festival 2021
    Buffalo
    United States
    Nominated for the Best Narrative Feature
  • 28th. Sguardi Altrove International Women's Film Festival 2021
    Milano
    Italy
    Official Selection in the “Pale blue Section” [Azzurro Pallido, Singolare Maschile]
  • 9th. Asian Film Festival Barcelona 2021
    Barcelona
    Spain
    Nominated for the Best Film [PANORAMA SECTION]
  • 4th. International Strasburg Film Festival 2021
    Strasburg
    United States
    Nominated for the Best Dramatic Feature
  • 22nd. Ojai Film Festival 2021
    Ojai
    United States
    Nominated for the Best Narrative Feature
  • 17th. Terni Film Festival 2021 {POPOLI E RELIGIONI – TERNI FILM FESTIVAL}
    Terni
    Italy
    Best Director Award (Kazem Mollaie) and nominated for the Best Feature Film
  • 6th. Coronado Island Film Festival 2021
    Coronado
    United States
    Nominated for the Best Feature Film
  • 10th. Vancouver International South Asian Film Festival 2021
    Vancouver
    Canada
    Vancouver Premiere
    Nominated for the Best Feature Length Film
  • 15th. Jacksonville Film Festival 2022
    Jacksonville
    United States
    Nominated for the Best Feature Narrative
Distribution Information
  • Kazem Mollaie (MK)
    Distributor
    Country: Iran, Islamic Republic of
    Rights: All Rights
Director Biography - Kazem Mollaie

Kazem Mollaie, an independent filmmaker born in Iran in 1981, embarked on his filmmaking journey with short films in 1999. He holds a B.A. in Cinema Directing from "Soore University of Tehran," which he earned in 2005. Recently, he settled in the UK under the Global Talent Visa program in the field of cinema, where he continues to pursue his passion for filmmaking in London.

Throughout his career, Mollaie has actively engaged with various film organizations. He is a member of esteemed guilds such as the "Directors UK", the "Directors Guild of Iran", the Board of Directors of the "Iranian Short Film Association" (ISFA), the "Iranian Alliance of Motion Picture Guilds" (House of Cinema), and the "Iranian Youth Cinema Society" (IYCS).

He has had the opportunity to participate in numerous film festivals, both as a jury member and as part of the selection committee. Notable events include the Tehran International Short Film Festival (Academy Awards® Qualifying), Iran Cinema Celebration, Nahal International Student Short Film Festival, Varesh International Short Film Festival, and the Iranian Independent Short Film Ceremony (ISFA AWARDS).

Mollaie gained recognition for his short films, including "MINUS" (2009) and "DELETE" (2011). However, it was his debut feature film, "KUPAL" (2017), that resonated with audiences and critics, garnering attention for its unique storytelling and artistic approach. This film had the honor of being screened at multiple prestigious film festivals around the world, including "New Horizons" in Poland, "Belgrade" in Serbia, "Kerala" and "Kolkata" in India, "Split" in Croatia, "Anchorage" in the USA, "Black Movie" in Switzerland, "Hamilton" in Canada, "Ischia" in Italy, and "Bogota" in Colombia, bringing significant acclaim to Iranian cinema.

In 2020, Mollaie released his second feature film, "THE BADGER," which received critical acclaim. The film was nominated for Best Film at the "23rd Shanghai International Film Festival" (China) [ASIAN NEW TALENT AWARD] during its World Premiere and also competed at the "27th Austin Film Festival" during its North American premiere, earning the Best Narrative Jury Award at this renowned screenwriter's event.

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Director Statement

LIFE FORCES YOU TO FORGIVE!