TEHRAN-Four short films from Iran will participate in the 47th Asian American International Film Festival (AAIFF) in Manhattan, New York, the U.S., due to be held from August 1 to 11.

The Iranian participants in the American event include “Sheep” directed by Mehrdad Kabiri, “The Steak” by Kiarash Dadgar, “Plan B” by Nima Rahimpur, and “Totem Night” co-directed by Negin Kamran and Hana Aziminia, Mehr reported.

A 2023 production, “Sheep” is a 15-minute film, which will be screened in the “Shorts: Rise Up!” section of the festival.

The fantasy drama is about Amir, a student who is humiliated by the school principal in front of other students because of his family’s financial situation. As a result, he has a challenge with the school administrator and seeks revenge. Finally, this incident leads to his transformation, both physically and metaphorically, in a way that becomes troublesome for the school administrator.

The cast includes Maziar Seyedi, Yazdan Kokabi-Saba, Shahrouz Aghaipur, and Mohsen Banihashemi.

The other three Iranian films will take part in the “Shorts: Tales That Go Bump in the Night” section of the festival.

A drama, “The Steak” is an eight-minute flick made in 2023. It depicts a mother who prepares a cake and food for her daughter’s birthday on an ordinary day. Suddenly, the enemy’s Army launches a surprise attack, leaving the mother with no time to escape, to protect her daughter, she hides the girl in a closet. The Soldiers attack the house and kill the mother. A medic soldier discovers the girl and tries to bring joy by celebrating her birthday. However, the birthday changed to a funeral.

Faranak Khamis, Amin Simiar, and Panisa Peyvakht play in the film.

“Plan B,” 24 minutes, is a 2023 drama thriller depicting a father who discovers his daughter’s secret affair with a man. He decides to kill them both with the help of his young son and defend the family’s reputation. But at the last moment, his plan falls apart.

Majid Potki, Daniyal Mahmoudnia, Mandana Montajebi, and Mohammad Reza Helalzadeh are in the cast.

“Totem Night” is a 19-minute movie produced in 2023. The fantasy, horror, mystery flick is centered on a young girl who lives in the house of an old lady, serving as her nurse. There are a bunch of domestic animals in the house, which the young girl consumes as food and other things. 

After living there for a while, the animals’ interactions with the girl become weird. They try to warn her about something but fail. In a nightmare of hers, the girl sees many other girls who used to be nurses in the house and have all morphed into animals. Finally, through magic, the old woman (who looks young) turns the girl (who looks weak and old) into a rabbit. Now, a new girl comes to the house and takes the rabbit (the previous nurse), repeating the same destiny.

The cast includes Sonia Sanjari and Shahedeh Khodadadi.

Established in 1978 by Asian CineVision, the Asian American International Film Festival is the nation’s first and longest-running festival of its kind and the premier showcase for the best independent Asian, Asian diaspora, and Pacific Islander cinema. AAIFF is committed to film and media as a tool for social change and to supporting diversity and inclusion in the media arts.

Asian CineVision is a media arts nonprofit devoted to the development, exhibition, promotion, and preservation of Asian and Asian American experiences through storytelling. Its mission is to nurture and grow the community of makers and enthusiasts of Asian and Asian American independent film, television, and digital.

SS/SAB