YALDA, A NIGHT FOR FORGIVENESS

Massoud Bakhshi

iran france germany switzerland luxembourg 2019 89 min

in iran today: maryam (22) accidentally kills her husband nasser (65) and is sentenced to death. the only person who can save her is mona, nasser’s daughter. all mona has to do is appear on a popular live tv show and forgive maryam. but forgiveness proves difficult when they are forced to relive the past.

• About the film

  Original Title Yalda (یلدا)

  French Title Yalda la nuit du pardon

  Directed by Massoud Bakhshi

  Screenplay Massoud Bakhshi

  Cast Sadaf Asgari Behnaz Jafari Babak Karimi Fereshteh Sadre Orafaiy

  Cinematography Julian Atanassov

  Editing Jacques Comets

  Production Companies JBA Production Niko Film Close Up Films Amour Fou Luxembourg Tita B Productions Ali Mosaffa Productions

• Festivals & Awards

  Fajr International Film Festival
  2019 | Official Selection — World Premiere

  Sundance Film Festival
  2020 | World Cinema Dramatic Competition
  Grand Jury Prize — World Cinema Dramatic

  Berlin International Film Festival
  2020 | Generation 14plus
  Nomination — Crystal Bear — Best Film

  Sofia International Film Festival
  2020 | International Competition
  Special Mention — Best Screenplay — Massoud Bakhshi

  Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival
  2020 | International Feature Film Competition
  Best Director — Massoud Bakhshi

  FIFDH Geneva — International Film Festival and Forum on Human Rights
  2020 | Official Selection

  Luxembourg City Film Festival
  2020 | Official Selection

  Karlovy Vary International Film Festival
  2020 | Official Selection

  PyeongChang International Peace Film Festival
  2020 | International Competition

  Mediterranean Film Festival Split
  2020 | International Competition

  Vancouver International Film Festival
  2020 | Official Selection

  Warsaw International Film Festival
  2020 | Official Selection

  Bergen International Film Festival
  2020 | Official Selection
  Nomination — Cinema Extraordinaire

  Helsinki International Film Festival — Love & Anarchy
  2020 | Competition

  Bogotá International Film Festival
  2020 | Official Selection

  Odesa International Film Festival
  2020 | Official Selection

  Brisbane International Film Festival
  2020 | Official Selection

  Adelaide Film Festival
  2020 | Official Selection

  Tartu Love Film Festival
  2020 | Official Selection

  Free Zone Film Festival
  2020 | International Competition
  Nomination — Best Film

  Pingyao Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon International Film Festival
  2020 | Crouching Tigers Competition
  Nomination — People's Choice Award

  Barcelona-Sant Jordi International Film Festival
  2021
  Best Screenplay — Massoud Bakhshi

  Washington DC International Film Festival
  2021
  Circle Award

  Lumière Awards
  2021
  Nomination — Best International Co-Production

  Grand Prix Cinéma ELLE
  2020
  Grand Prix Cinéma ELLE