This is not me

Iran is the only country in the region to recognise trans people (any other LGBQ+ identity is banned). Both Shervin and Saman offer a glimpse into what life is like for trans youth, who despite loving and supportive parents are forced to live covert lives, shy away from their neighbours and even consider emigration, in order to be who they truly are. One of the many heartrending scenes in this documentary features one of the boys, fully clothed on the beach and yearning to go swimming, while the other shouts at his parents, asking whether his father is also forced to wear a headscarf. This is Not Me is a detailed depiction of the legal and social labyrinth that promises a slim aperture of freedom.

  • saeed gholipour
    Director
  • Reza Mouri
    Writer
    Short Film Fireworks Wednesday -Film The Skier
  • saeed gholipour
    Producer
  • Shervin ramezan
    Key Cast
    "Shervin"
  • Saman qazian
    Key Cast
    "Saman"
  • Hasan Mahdavi
    sound
  • Farid Daghagheleh
    Edit
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Feature, Student
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 10 minutes 54 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    June 1, 2021
  • Production Budget:
    24,000 EUR
  • Country of Origin:
    Iran, Islamic Republic of
  • Country of Filming:
    Iran, Islamic Republic of
  • Language:
    Persian
  • Shooting Format:
    35mm, digital,sony a7rii
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Tehran University of Arts
  • BFI Flare London film festival
    London
    March 12, 2022
    اولین نمایش اروپا
  • Sebastopol docufest
    Sebastopol
    United States
    March 26, 2022
    American Premier
    selected
Director Biography - saeed gholipour

Saeed Gholipour was born in 1993 in Iran.
He studied cinema at the University of Tehran.
Appearing in several movies as an assistant in 2012 added to his experience.
He later filmed several short films. By the time he graduated from university in 2018, he had written, directed and filmed his first feature film, "This Is Not Me."
Attending several prestigious festivals with his first feature film can be added to his repertoire.
Focusing on social problems and the rights of gender minorities in Iran can be seen in his films

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

When a documentary filmmaker wants to make a film about a subject, he first measures the community's need for it, and so did the documentary "This Is Not Me."

What drew me to this issue was the community's ignorance of the transgender community.

Many trans people in Iran have fallen victim to traditional thinking and have been murdered or expelled from society.

Unfortunately, nearly sixty percent of trans people in Iran have experienced suicide at least once due to major depression.

Lack of social security and non-observance of their basic rights in families and society as a human being has created difficult conditions for them in society.

The lack of culture about trans people encouraged me to make a film about their lives, and after three years of filming the lives of Saman and Sherwin, I portrayed the process of their lives.

My view of the subject and my insistence on narrating the reality of their lives had many difficulties, but the hope and effort for a more comfortable life for the trances created a double incentive to build.

Not all the hardships and problems they experience, in other countries are unbelievable and understandable.

One of the things I really felt about making "This Is Not Me" was that I wanted the film to have a heartfelt narrative and a kind look, without exaggeration or compassion, both in tone and structure. I realized that I could make a film that would explicitly talk about their problems and tell the story of what is going on in the Iranian trance. I wanted to make a film that would allow viewers to feel what is going on in their lives - power, Describe the extraordinary vitality and commitment that these people have to prove themselves as men and envision a future for themselves.

My goal is to make the importance of culture building and, consequently, a more effective, emotionally resonant and emotional film by looking at human issues and the simple language of the film. When the film is over, my hope is that the viewer will leave the hall seeing and experiencing a piece of themselves in each of our subjects. After all, are not their strength, effort, love and hope respected alongside a loving family?