Private Project

Utopia

Three interwoven stories of loneliness and isolation.
JANAN lives in war torn Afghanistan, her husband was badly wounded in the conflict he can’t move or speak but she desperately wants to have a child.
WILLIAM is a medical sciences student in Scotland and coming to terms with his father’s death, a commissioned officer in Afghanistan. When Janan arrives at the Fertility clinic where William works he takes a special interest in her case. Feeling more and more isolated he decides to use his swap the donor semen for his own. Wanting to be a father to the child William contacts Janan and arranges to meet her under the pretense of an official check up. William confesses all to Janan in their meeting where she learns not only who the father is but that the baby she will give birth to comes from a family with long standing connections to the military and were part of the forces on the ground in her homeland. RAHUL a taxi driver in India helps Janan, now clearly in despair and finds solace from his own plight.

  • Hassan Nazer
    Director
  • Amir Aghaee
    Writer
  • Christopher Justin Robb
    Producer
  • mohsen Aliakbari
    Producer
  • Homayoun Ershadi
    Key Cast
  • Andrew Shaver
    Key Cast
  • Hannah Spearritt
    Key Cast
  • Martine Zikria
    Key Cast
  • arun Bali
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Feature
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 23 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    January 8, 2015
  • Production Budget:
    400,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Afghanistan
  • Country of Filming:
    Afghanistan, India, Tajikistan, United Kingdom
  • Language:
    English, Hindi, Persian
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital,35mm,red,4k
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.33
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Asian world film festival
    Los Angeles
    October 28, 2015
    Best Actress Award for malalai Zikria
  • Delhi International film festival
    Delhi India
    December 21, 2015
    best Actress Award for Malalai Zikria
  • Jaipur International film festival
    jaipur
    January 6, 2016
    Best Debutante Director for Hassan Nazer
  • Kerela International film festival
    Kerela
    December 22, 2015
  • pune International film festival
    Pune
    February 2, 2016
  • Bangelure International film festival
    Bangelure
    January 28, 2016
  • Prestige film award

    golden award for best forigne film
  • Fajr international film festival
    tehran
    April 15, 2015
    Audience award best film
  • Accolade global film competition

    Special mention, Award of Excellency
Director Biography - Hassan Nazer

Hassan Nazer is an internationally acclaimed British–Iranian film director and storyteller, known for his powerful, human-centered narratives that bridge cultures and resonate with global audiences. Born in Iran and based in the UK for over 25 years, he studied film in Aberdeen, developing a cinematic voice shaped by a deep understanding of Middle Eastern heritage and European life.
His breakout feature, Winners (2022), received widespread acclaim and won the BAFTA Scotland Award for Best Feature Film in 2023. The film was also selected as the UK’s official submission to the 95th Academy Awards for Best International Feature. Winners reflects Hassan’s signature approach: emotionally resonant storytelling with universal themes, often using non-professional actors to capture raw authenticity and grounded human experience.
In line with that artistic vision, Hassan recently completed the film Without Permission, which continues his commitment to working with real communities and lived experiences. The film is currently awaiting its international festival premiere.
Hassan also directed Utopia (2015), which was Afghanistan’s official submission to both the Academy Awards and Golden Globes. The film, which centers on a female protagonist, was widely celebrated at international festivals and further solidified Hassan’s reputation for exploring narratives of strength, resilience, and social justice.
Across his work, Hassan consistently explores themes of identity, migration, and the human impact of social and political upheaval. His films have screened at major international festivals and are widely recognized for their authenticity, poetic realism, and strong cross-cultural appeal.

Upcoming Project: Farida – The Girl Who Beat ISIS
Hassan is currently preparing to direct Farida, The Girl Who Beat ISIS, a UK–Germany co-production scheduled to begin filming in late 2025. Based on the powerful true story of a Yazidi survivor, the film explores themes of survival, justice, and female empowerment, continuing Hassan’s dedication to telling bold, globally resonant stories with purpose and heart.
With a growing body of international work and a deep sensitivity to both Eastern and Western audiences, Hassan Nazer is a filmmaker with a bold voice, a clear vision, and a profound global reach.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Making ‘Utopia’ was a blessing for me. I’m an immigrant myself, and what is an immigrant? It’s someone who has made a huge and decisive leap in their life and is now living in a different part of the planet. A new life, within some new kind of cultural rules and that’s what the Heroine of our lm Janan has done. She has taken an enormous decision on the cusp of her middle age. A decision that has a huge impact on the other two main characters journeys through life. You wouldn’t be able to find so many scripts these days looking this hopeful at Afghanistan’s future, so when i read it the first time I knew I was going to direct this film.