Shayda
Noora Niasari
Winner of the Audience Award at Sundance and Australia’s 2024 Academy Award nominee for Best International Feature, Shayda is the debut film from Iranian director Noora Niasari, which has captivated critics. Produced by Cate Blanchett and starring Zar Amir-Ebrahimi, who won the Best Actress award at Cannes for Holy Spider, Shayda is a personal story inspired by the director’s childhood and a tribute to her mother.
Synopsis
Shayda, an Iranian woman living in Australia, seeks refuge in a shelter for abused women with her 6-year-old daughter, Mona. After fleeing her husband, Hossein, and filing for divorce, Shayda struggles to maintain a sense of normalcy for Mona. The new situation and the visitation schedule that the child is required to follow with her father increase the tension day by day, but they do not diminish Shayda's desire to start a new life.
Spanish release date: June 28, 2024
Cast
Zar Amir Ebrahimi, Selina Zahednia, Osamah Sami, Leah Purcell, Jillian Nguyen, Mojean Aria, Rina Mousavi
Crew
Direction and screenplay: Noora Niasari
Produced by: Dirty Films (Cate Blanchett)
Country: Australia
Film Critics Say:
"Powerful. Its unmistakable fighting spirit, running wild and free, is the greatest asset of this promising debut". Variety.
"A fine balance of light and dark: rebellion, love and resistance are in perfect harmony". The Hollywood Reporter
"An exciting new voice has arrived in Australian cinema". The Guardian ★★★★
"An inspiring story, of a woman who chooses hope over fear." Screendaily
"Zar Amir Ebrahimi shines in a deeply affecting Iranian-Australian drama". IndieWire
Distribution contact:
Virginia Menor
vmenor@lazona.eu
657 58 51 55
