JUNKS & DOLLS
Junks & Dolls
(Ashghal-ha va Arousak-ha)
Directed by: Manijeh Hekmat
Written by: Manijeh Hekmat, Mehrave Ferdosi
With Special Thanks to: Mahsa Mohebali
Producers: Manijeh Hekmat, Mahshid Ahangarani Farahani
Production Company: Bamdad Film
Executive Producer: Pouria Souri
Production Manager: Daryosh Hekmat
DOP: Mohammad Reza Janpanah
Editors: Mostafa Kherghehpoosh, Sepehr Mahdaviani
Music: Heydar Sajedi
Production Designer: Morteza Farbod
Costume Designer: Nazi Khatami
Sound Mix: Iraj Shazadi
Sound-recordist: Soheil Motevalli
Make-up: Babak Eskandari
Cast: Behdokht Valian (Shali), Mohammad Valizadegan (Elias), Reza Koolagahni (Shirou), Raja Jafari (Pegah), Jahan Yaghoubi, Yamna Hosseinzadeh (Nargol).
Iran, 2023, RED, DCP, 2K, Color / B&W, 2:1, 5.1, 76 mins.
Original Language: Farsi.
Synopsis:
A couple is destined to build up their life in the heart of a waste depot in the heart of Iranian north forests. They begin making different things with the junks they find and making friends with the other people… but what remains of the people who are determined to fight their nature?
Director’s View:
Sometimes, when expelled, Adam and Eve find themselves in the middle of a wasteland and struggle to build a small heaven on the Earth for the sake of their love to each other and to the Mother Nature – however they are destined to be expelled time and time again…
In order to go through this story, for a while, we lived in a real waste depot which is swallowing the northern forests in Iran.
Director’s Profile:
Born in 1962, Manijeh Hekmat is one of the prominent figures in political cinema in Iran. In 1995, she started her film career as a producer. In 2002, based on her long studies and field-works, Hekmat directed her debut feature, WOMEN’S PRISON, on the situation of Iranian women prisoners. The film was premiered in Venice Film Festival and then entered the festival circuit. In 2007, her second film, THREE WOMEN, was shown in more than 80 international film festivals starting with Berlinale. She has also directed a number of documentaries – most notably NGOS IN IRAN (2003); ME, MY ROOM AND MY FRIENDS (2004); HUNDRED YEARS PARLIAMENT IN IRAN (2005); WOMEN COME OUT OF THE HOUSE (2006); and THE LULLABY (2016). In 2020, despite the festival cancellations, she made a spectacular comeback to the festival circuit with her 4th feature film, BANDAR BAND, participating in Toronto, Zurich, Mill Valley, Bosphorous, Hainan, etc. and winning the main award in Kolkata.
Up to now, as president of Bamdad Film Company, she has produced 16 feature films– such as THE GIRL IN THE SNEAKERS (1999); THERE ARE THINGS YOU DON’T KNOW (2009); NO ENTRY FOR MEN (2011); CITY OF THE MICE (2014); GAP (2014) – and several shorts and documentaries.
Feature Films: 2002- Women’s Prison; 2008- Three Women; 2018- Old Road; 2020- Bandar Band; 2022- 19; 2023- Junks and Dolls.
Festivals & Awards:
1- Kolkata International Film Festival (India – December 2023).
- Special Screening.
2- International Film Festival of Kerala (India – December 2023).
- World Cinema.
3- Dhaka International Film Festival (Bangladesh – January 2024).
- Best Film Award in the Women Filmmakers Competition.
4- Women’s International Film Festival (India – February 2024).
- World Cinema.
5- Phoenix Film Festival (USA – March 2024).
- World Cinema Competition.
6- SIEFF – Seoul International Eco Film Festival (South Korea – June 2024).
- International Competition.
7- Galway Film Fleadh (Ireland – July 2024).
- World Cinema Competition.
8- Frames of Freedom Film Festival 2024 (India – August 2024).
- Iran Focus Program.
9- Kinoshock Film Festival (Russia – September 2024).
- International Competition.
10- Batumi International Art House Film Festival (Georgia – September 2024).
- Feature Films Competition.
11- Asian Film Festival Barcelona (Spain – November 2024).
- NETPAC Competition.
12- Matera Film Festival (Italy – November 2024).
- Feature Films Competition.
13- Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival (USA – November 2024).
- Official Selection.
World Sales:
Sales: mohammad@irimageco.com
Festivals: kamyar@irimageco.com