Iranian Activist Naza Alakija Pays Tribute to Mahsa Amini With Short Film ‘Rise’ Where a Young Woman is Abducted by Tehran’s Morality Police: Watch Clip (EXCLUSIVE)
variety.comNick Vivarelli International Correspondent March 20 marks the celebration of Nowruz, the Persian New Year. It’s Iran’s first Spring festivities since the death of Jina “Mahsa” Amini, the 22-year-old Iranian Kurdish woman who died while in police custody for allegedly wearing a loose headscarf.
On Nowruz, which means “New Day,” Iranian activist Naza Alakija is paying tribute to Iran’s “Woman. Life. Freedom.” movement with the release of a powerful short film titled “Rise” about a young woman who, like Amini, pushes back agains Iran’s morality police and is kidnapped from the streets of Tehran.
Alakija, who is the founder and CEO of London-based Evoca Foundation, produced the short – which features British-Iranian actress Yasaman Mohsani (“Secret Invasion”) as the victim – with partners who have chosen to remain anonymous for fear of retribution from Iran’s security forces, as has the film’s female director. “Rise” features the words of Maya Angelou’s poem “Still I Rise” and the music of Kurdish artist Hani Mojtahedy and Iranian rapper Gdaal.
The short will premiere on Monday afternoon at an Everyman Cinema in London, followed by a global launch on the foundation’s social media channels.
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