SHAYDA Discovery

Australia’s Oscar^® submission for Best International Feature

Screening to be followed by a conversation with director Noora Niasari.

Noora Niasari’s poignant debut feature, executive produced by Academy Award® winner Cate Blanchett, follows the courageous titular character, Shayda (brought to life by the captivating Zar Amir Ebrahimi, Cannes’ Best Actress winner in last year’s HOLY SPIDER), as she fights for autonomy from her abusive husband. Set in the mid-’90s, Shayda and her 6-year-old daughter Mona are temporarily living in Australia as her husband Hossein attends medical school. When Hossein’s abusive behavior escalates to a devastating violent act, Shayda takes refuge at a women’s shelter while she files for divorce, an immensely taboo decision that makes waves in their close-knit Iranian community. Matters only intensify when Shayda is required to allow Hossein weekly visits with Mona. As Shayda explores a life separate from the controlling clasp of her husband, she discovers a newfound self-reliance, as well as a potential romantic spark. Anchored by supporting roles of the resilient women in her shelter, SHAYDA shines a light on female solidarity and the superhuman resourcefulness of motherhood. Winner of the World Cinema Audience Award at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. –Julia Kipnis