Three Sisters
Feature film in development in
Kurdish Language / 100 minutes / 2026
“It was autumn and I was studying at the Art University of Tehran when I received a video via Bluetooth, which seemed to keep me in shock forever. A 30-second video that will make every viewer’s heart tremble. This video was recorded by Mehtab, a 19-year-old victim girl in Iran, who was killed by her cruel father while filming her sisters by the river. This type of murder is called “honor killing” In Iran.” (Behzad Azadi)
The Storks
Feauter film project in development
Kurdish Language / 120 minutes
Selected by Cinefondation residency 2021
Director’s intent
I grew up in a Kurdish border town where many young Kids live within poor families that are collapsing under increasing political and economic pressures.
In my mind I lived now for some years with the character of Shaho, a Kurdish-speaking teenager who tries to find the reason for his father’s disappearance. A tragic story within a three act classic structure with many ups and downs. Even in a neorealist aesthetic the film plays in dreamy landscapes and uses storks that live for real around the town as a leitmotif.
The destiny of Shaho is reflecting the story of many families around the world. Still a sparkle of light can be found even in pure darkness. I believe this film is such a light for Kurdistan.
MA MÈRE EST MORTE EN RÊVE
UN PROJET DE COURT-MÉTRAGE DE BEHZAD AZADI ET ANOUK PHÉLINE
SYNOPSIS
Rukhsar, une jeune Afghane de dix-sept ans, travaille illégalement dans un supermarché halal et vit avec sa mère malade. Réfugiées en France, elles portent le deuil de leur famille assassinée par les Talibans. Rukhsar doit s’adapter à une nouvelle culture tout en préservant ses racines.
Memories on the glass
A Feature documentary project
“When I fled Iran through the political situation after the demonstration under the slogan “Woman, Life, Freedom” I find myself out in the refugee camp which I never imagined in my life. To be out of depression and lose my motivation as a filmmaker I shoot a documentary based on Three Afghan refugees who I met during the Asylum process.” (Behzad Azadi)
