Iranian Film Wins International Prize Despite Persecution
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| “Bidad”. Courtesy of KVIFF |
Iranian director Soheil Beiraghi’s film “Bidad” has won the Special Jury Prize at the 59th Karlovy Vary Film Festival in Czech Republic, even as several cast and crew members face prison sentences in Iran for their involvement in the film.
Bidad addresses the prohibition of women’s solo singing voices in Iran. Iranian courts convicted multiple people involved in the production of the film on charges such as “propaganda activities against the system,” “producing vulgar content,” and “encouraging behaviors contrary to public decency through virtual space.”
Beiraghi himself was sentenced to four years and three months in prison, a verdict he announced on Instagram with the comment, “For not reproducing lies, that’s all.”
The film was added to the Karlovy Vary competition lineup shortly before the festival began, in an effort to protect the safety of its creators.
Among those facing legal consequences are prominent actors Amir Jadidi, Leily Rashidi, and Servin Zabtian, as well as crew members including Beiraghi’s wife, Roksana Nikpour.
At the center of Bidad is Seti, a young woman whose bold declaration reverberates throughout the film.
“I want to sing alone, just that,” she says, responding to a music teacher who insists that women’s voices must remain beneath men’s - a reflection of Iran’s effective ban on female solo performances in public.
Seti represents thousands of Iranian women who refuse to be relegated to backing vocals or choirs.
She embodies a generation determined to be heard on their own terms, in their own voices, without compromise or apology.
Her journey becomes increasingly treacherous as she encounters “insults, humiliation, suppression, imprisonment, and censorship.” Yet she persists, eventually performing in a street concert with the support of her friends.
The character's musical choices reflect this defiance. Throughout the film, Seti performs songs by Amy Winehouse and Tom Odell, alongside Kurdish, Gilaki, and Persian music, including “Kiss Me.”
This musical diversity creates what critics have described as a “soundtrack of resistance,” merging international and regional sounds to represent a generation caught between tradition and transformation.
The film’s vocals are performed by Parastoo Ahmadi, a young singer whose real-life experiences mirror the fictional struggles on screen. Ahmadi was arrested last year for performing without a mandatory hijab and was later released on bail.
Bidad is Beiraghi’s fourth work created entirely outside Iran’s official cinema system.
During the 2023 release of his film Popular, authorities banned the depiction of actresses’ faces in promotional materials.
The resulting poster appeared entirely white, showing only the film’s title and cast names - a stark metaphor for the erasure of women from public discourse.
Bidad offers an unflinching portrayal of contemporary Tehran, depicting Generation Z in ways that challenge state-sanctioned narratives.
The film shows young women riding motorcycles and bicycles in public spaces, frequenting underground cafés, and pursuing artistic dreams without regard for religious restrictions.
This Tehran is one of “strange friendships and unfamiliar habits,” where young people navigate romantic relationships and intergenerational conversations in ways that defy cultural taboos.
Beiraghi describes the film as offering “another definition of individual and social life reality” - one that flows through the lives of ordinary people but is systematically repressed.
The story unfolds with explicit honesty, portraying women in clothing of their choice rather than the mandated dress code, and engaging in activities that reflect real life rather than state-prescribed behavior.
This authentic depiction of urban Iranian youth has resonated with international audiences, even as it renders the film impossible to screen in its home country.
Screen Daily described the film as a powerful expression of a feminine voice in underground Tehran.
The Hollywood Reporter characterized it as a feminine narrative and the voice of a generation, comparing Beiraghi to Iranian auteurs Abbas Kiarostami, Jafar Panahi, and Asghar Farhadi - filmmakers known for portraying diverse and humane visions of Iranian society.
Variety described Bidad as “bold and high-risk,” observing how a woman’s life path unfolds entirely differently in Beiraghi’s homeland than elsewhere.
The emotional weight of the film was felt even by fellow Iranian artists. Actor Ali Shadman, who was attending the festival for another film, wrote on Instagram after watching Bidad, “Our tears flowed relentlessly... Truly, something has changed in us that will never return to what it was before - something important and fundamental.”
Beiraghi’s experience reflects a broader reality faced by Iranian filmmakers who refuse to conform to state narratives.
Directors including Jafar Panahi, Mohammad Rasoulof, Behtash Sanaeeha, and Maryam Moghadam have all faced similar repercussions for pursuing independent cinema.
The artists work under extraordinary constraints, often without permits, with cast and crew at constant threats of arrest. Yet, their work continues to earn international acclaim, even as they face immediate suppression at home.
Via IranWire
See further: A Young Iranian Singer Makes Her Voice Heard in ‘Bidad’
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