Iranian Cinema and the 82nd Venice Biennale.
A Significant Presence of Persian Cinema
The 2025 International Film Festival celebrates the richness and diversity of Iranian cinema with a selection of works ranging from restored classics to the most innovative contemporary productions.
VENICE CLASSICS
BASHÚ, GHARIBEH KOUCHAK (Bashu, the little stranger)
Directed by: Bahram Beyzai
Year: 1986
Duration: 121 minutes
Projections:
Thursday, August 28, 11:15 a.m. - Cortino Hall
Friday, August 29, 11:15 a.m. – Astra Hall 1
A masterpiece of 80s Iranian cinema, restored for the occasion, which poetically tells the story of a boy from southern Iran during the Iran-Iraq war.
HORIZONS SECTION
KOMEDIE ELAHI (Divine Comedy)
Directed by: Ali Asgari
Production: Iran, Italy, France, Germany, Türkiye
Duration: 98 minutes
Cast: Bahram Ark, Sadaf Asgari, Hossein Soleimani
Projections:
Tuesday, September 2, 14:15 PM – Darsena Hall
Wednesday, September 3, 14:30 PM – PalaBiennale
A contemporary work that explores universal themes through the eyes of a new generation of Iranian filmmakers.
AUTHORS' DAYS
PAST FUTURE CONTINUOUS
Director: Morteza Ahmadvand, Firouzeh Khosrovani
Production: Iran, Norway, Italy
Duration: 80 minutes
Projections:
Monday, September 1, 11:30 a.m. – Sala Perla (with Q&A)
An intimate documentary that reflects on memory and identity through an Iranian-European perspective.
DAROON-E AMIR
Directed by: Amir Azizi
Production: Iran
Duration: 104 minutes
Cast: Amirhossein Hosseini, Nader Pourmahin, Nariman Farrokhi
Projections:
Thursday, September 4, 16:30 PM – Sala Perla (with Q&A)
Saturday, September 6, 19:15 PM – Corinto Hall
Practical information
All Iranian films are presented with Italian and English subtitles. Screenings with Q&As offer the opportunity to meet directors and producers to explore filmmaking themes and techniques.
Iranian cinema continues to be one of the most authentic and poetic voices on the global film scene, offering unique perspectives on universal themes of identity, memory, and social transformation.