Logline: In the heart of Iran's turmoil, a filmmaker, defiant after his film's confiscation, embarks on a daring, uproarious journey to create a protest selfie-video, risking all for global attention in 'NO END.'
Writer:?Navid Nikkhah Azad
Director:?Navid Nikkhah Azad
Producer: Navid Nikkhah Azad, Mohammad Shahverdy, Shiva Namvar
Stars: Sadegh Molaei (as Gholamali Darbari), Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx (as Pari)
In the heart of Iran's turbulent socio-political landscape, Gholamali Darbari, a determined filmmaker, faces the shattering confiscation of his provocative film, 'Forced Confession,' by the Iranian government authorities. Undeterred by adversity, he embarks on a bold and audacious mission: crafting a protest selfie-video destined for global platforms like BBC Persian and Iran International.
“'Woman, Life, Freedom' movement”, “Mahsa Amini”, “Mahsa Amini protests”, “Protests against the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran”, “Civil unrest”, “Socio-political upheaval”, “Protest selfie-video”, “Censorship”, “Government oppression”, “Activism”, “State control”, “Civil disobedience”, “Regime critique”, “Media suppression”, “Revolutionary fervor”, “Social justice”
Tagline: In a fight for freedom, a camera becomes the weapon.
Genres: Mid-Length · Comedy
- In “No End” by director Navid Nikkhah Azad, the film directly references the ‘Woman, Life, Freedom’ movement in Iran sparked by the tragic in-custody death of Mahsa Amini at the hands of Iran’s morality police. Amini’s refusal to adhere to the country’s abusive and discriminatory compulsory veiling laws became a focal point of this movement. The film references pivotal figures of the movement such as Mahsa Amini, Nika Shakarami, and Sarina Esmailzadeh.
- In “No End” by director Navid Nikkhah Azad, the film sharply criticizes the Persian news outlet, BBC Persian, alleging its complicity with the Islamic Republic of Iran, questioning its alignment and support.
- In “No End” by director Navid Nikkhah Azad, during a headline reading by the film’s protagonist, significant news unfolds, including the distressing sexual assault of Iranian photojournalist Yalda Moaiery by Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence officers. The headlines also expose Ebrahim Raisi’s denial of the tragic death of Mahsa Amini while in the custody of Iran’s morality police, falsely claiming no harm was inflicted. Additionally, the imprisonment of Iranian singer, musician, and activist Mehdi Yarrahi over the song ‘Take Off Your Hijab’ is featured. Former political prisoner Leila Hosseinzadeh’s courageous thesis defense without wearing Iran’s mandatory hijab stands out among these news highlights.
- In “No End” by director Navid Nikkhah Azad, the film pays homage to the “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement, showcasing scenes where people unite under the song “Baraye” by Shervin Hajipour and slogans against Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, and the Iranian government.
- In “No End” by director Navid Nikkhah Azad, the film references the tragic death of Armita Geravand, a 17-year-old girl who sustained a traumatic brain injury after a violent altercation with Tehran’s morality police for not wearing the mandatory hijab. On October 1, 2023, she fell into a coma while on Tehran Metro, and tragically, on October 28, 2023, she was declared brain dead in an Army hospital’s intensive care unit. Her story strikingly mirrors the fate of Mahsa Amini.
- In “No End” by director Navid Nikkhah Azad, the film pays homage to the "Woman, Life, Freedom" movement, showcasing scenes where people unite under the song "Baraye" by Shervin Hajipour and slogans against Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, and the Iranian government.
- Director Navid Nikkhah Azad covertly recorded No End in October 2023, delving into sensitive political subjects that question the Iranian regime and its leader, Ali Khamenei. Offering perspectives challenging the Islamic Republic regime, Navid Nikkhah Azad, originally scheduled to attend the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) as a film critic, discreetly uploaded the film to Vimeo and stored its daily footage on his laptop. Arriving in Amsterdam on November 8th, 2023, he sought asylum.
Release date: World Premiere
Country of origin: Iran · Itay
Official sites:?Website · IMDb · FilmFreeway
Production company:?ZIZ · Blue Rose
