Shayda is the Oscar-nominated directorial debut of filmmaker Noora Niasari, set in 1990s Australia during the Nowruz festival. The film centres on Shayda, an Iranian migrant played by Zar Amir Ebrahimi, who is raising her young daughter in a women’s shelter while attempting to divorce her abusive husband. Despite the constant, looming threat that her attempts to escape might fail, she strives to build a new life for herself and her daughter. However, events take an increasingly dramatic turn, and the story that unfolds from this deeply personal and domestic scenario carries significant cultural implications.
To close the festival, we will take a look at IAMANEH Schweiz projects on “Improving Institutional Coordination and Structural Dynamics in Cases of Violence Against Women and Girls” in Albania, after the screening of the film.
Director: Noora Niasari
Year: 2023
Location: Australia
Duration: 117 minutes
Languages: OV/g/f
Cast: Zar Amir Ebrahimi, Leah Purcell, Mojean Aria
