And, Towards Happy Alleys

IN 2023, 75 min, Sreemoyee Singh

Fascinated by Iran’s film culture and the poetic works of the feminist poet Forough Farrokhzad, Indian filmmaker Sreemoyee Singh sets out in search of the protagonists of Iranian cinema. The numerous interviews she conducts over a period of six years with filmmakers Jafar Panahi, Mohammad Shirvani and human rights activist Nasrin Sotudeh, among others, show the precarious situation in which critics of the regime find themselves, including the constant threat of imprisonment and being banned from practising their profession.

With a keen eye for unusual situations, she documents the effect of the Islamic Republic’s strict and omnipresent censorship on the daily lives of Iranian women whose uncompromising struggle has put them at the forefront of the protests that are currently rocking the country.

And, Towards Happy Alleys is a passionate declaration of love for the cinema and poetry of Iran which also provides a frank view of daily life, and bears witness to a fearless generation raising its voice and implacably demanding its civil liberties.

festivals

Berlinale 2023, DE | CPH:DOX 2023, DK | Buenos Aires International Festival of Independent Cinema 2023, BR | Sheffield Docfest 2023, UK | Cartagena Film Festival 2023 | Mumbai Film Festival 2023, IN | Thessaloniki Film Festival 2023, GR | Biografilm Festival 2023, IT | DMZ Filmfestival 2023, Korea | Docpoint 2024, FI

awards

2023 Winner: Best Feature Film International Competition - Buenos Aires International Festival of Independent Cinema