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Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
A Young Iranian Singer Makes Her Voice Heard in ‘Bidad' (Exclusive Karlovy Vary Trailer)
Seti loves music and singing, and she yearns for her voice to be heard. Great, you say? No problem, you say? Well, not so fast! What you need to know is that Seti lives in Iran, where it is against the law for women to perform in public. That is why Soheil Beiraghi's fourth feature, Bidad, meaning Outcry, world premiering as the long-secret 12th movie in the Crystal Globe Competition of the 59th edition of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (KVIFF) on July 9, would not be allowed by the censors in his home country. More from The Hollywood Reporter The Summer of Sarah Niles: 'F1' Star on the "Theater" of Racing and Tom Cruise's Reaction: He Was "on the Edge of His Seat" 'Squid Game' Star Yim Si-Wan on Learning to "Love the Hate" Fans Feel for His Character Bob Vylan Dropped From Europe Music Festivals in Wake of "Death to the IDF" Controversy Seti is its protagonist, and she won't be silenced without standing up for herself. 'In the heart of Tehran, Seti, a girl from Generation Z, dreams of sharing her voice with the world. But in a society where womenare not allowed to sing in public, her dream feels impossibly distant,' reads a plot summary for the film. 'Refusing to give up, she turns the city streets into her stage, the only place where she feels truly free. Singing courageously to passersby, she discovers the quiet power of self-expression and the strength it takes to follow her passion, no matter the obstacles.' As such, the independent film 'fights for all those whose voice remains unjustly silenced,' the Czech festival highlights. Bidad stars Sarvin Zabetian (180 Degree Rule, Terrestrial Verses), Leili Rashidi and Amir Jadidi. Beiraghi (I, Cold Sweat, Popular) wrote, directed, produced and co-edited the movie, and he handled art direction. His Alef Pictures is the production company and is also handling sales. Unpopular, which centers on complex female protagonists confronting societal and institutional barriers, was notably barred from public screening in Iran for more than two years. In addition to his film work, Beiraghi has directed for the stage and served on international film festival juries. Directed undercover for safety reasons, Bidad has drawn much attention since KVIFF said that it would hold off on unveiling details about its final competition film until later to protect its creative team. When it was finally announced last week, the festival highlighted: 'Beiraghi was investigated by the authorities during filming. It was necessary to withhold announcement of the film's inclusion in the festival's program until he and the members of his crew could safely travel out of Iran. A few days ago, the festival team was overjoyed to hear that they were on their way.' A few days later, KVIFF artistic director Karel Och told THR: 'We were blown away, not just by the political aspect of the film and the courage of the filmmakers to go that far concerning something, which in our parts of the world is just a natural thing — seeing a young woman singing in the streets of a metropolis, but also by how it's made. It's not just about the content. It's a really well-made film that has the potential to talk to people all around the world.' A trailer for Bidad, which THR can now exclusively debut, introduces Seti and the challenges she faces, including with security forces, along with other characters, including one wearing a LeBron James L.A. Lakers jersey. A kitchen fire and alcohol also feature before emotions look ready to boil over. In one scene, push comes to shove — literally. Watch the full trailer for Bidad below. Best of The Hollywood Reporter The 40 Best Films About the Immigrant Experience Wes Anderson's Movies Ranked From Worst to Best 13 of Tom Cruise's Most Jaw-Dropping Stunts
Broadcast Pro
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Broadcast Pro
Karlovy Vary IFF adds Iranian film ‘Bidad' as final Crystal Globe Competition title
The film tells the story of young singer Seti who refuses to accept the fact that women in Iran are not allowed to perform in public. The Karlovy Vary International Film Festival has announced that Iranian feature Bidad, directed by Soheil Beiraghi, will complete the line-up for its main Crystal Globe Competition. This brings the total number of competing films to 12. When the festival first revealed its official selection in early June, organisers disclosed that an Iranian title will join the competition but withheld its identity to protect the safety of the film's director and crew. In a statement, the festival explained that the secrecy was necessary until Beiraghi and his team could leave Iran without risk of repercussions. Bidad, which will have its world premiere at Karlovy Vary, follows the story of Seti, a young singer who refuses to accept Iran's ban on women performing publicly. Defying religious laws, she takes her music to the streets, where her performances quickly resonate with a younger generation determined to challenge the country's repressive rules. As her popularity grows, Seti becomes a symbol of resistance and hope. Beiraghi created the film independently, acknowledging that it will not have passed Iranian censorship due to its critical portrayal of the regime. Despite working outside the official system, he was still investigated by authorities while making the film. The festival expressed relief and excitement after receiving confirmation just days ago that Beiraghi and his team were safely en route to Europe. Now free to share the film publicly, Karlovy Vary has unveiled Bidad as the final entry in this year's competition slate. Bidad marks Beiraghi's fourth feature, following Me (2016), Cold Sweat (2018) and Unpopular (2020). He will personally present the premiere during the festival.
