Tehran Without Permission

Director: Sepideh Farsi

2009 / 83min / DCP

Facing strict restrictions placed on filming by the Iranian government but eager nevertheless to capture the tense atmosphere in the streets of Tehran in the months before the controversial 2009 elections, Farsi began shooting with her Nokia cameraphone in beauty salons, cafes, taxi cabs, and most anywhere else she could find subjects willing (and unusually eager) to express their deepest hopes and fears about what the future might hold for themselves and for their country. An intense and intimate document of a city and a people on the cusp of crisis, made with resourcefulness and no small amount of courage.

In partnership with passerby, an online magazine, club, and newsletter highlighting the voices, stories, and recommendations of everyday women.
With the support of Villa Albertine and the International Organization of La Francophonie.

Q&A with director Sepideh Farsi moderated by actor and activist Sepideh Moafi