ROYAL

A narrative short film, written by Anastasiya Ador and directed by Anna Dobos.

An aspiring dancer from Eastern Europe is pushed to her limit working in the service industry in London, at a high-profile event attended by a Royal.

While 'Royal' is a film touching on several topics, such as precarity, being an outsider and a 'socially acceptable' refugee, at its core this is a story about survival, aspiration, class and social hierarchies in London and beyond, for which this event is a microcosm.

‘Royal’ has been short listed for the 2024 Slick Films Fund.

PRESERVATION

An experimental narrative short film, written and directed by Anna Dobos.

In the context of creeping ecological collapse, a pair of researchers embark on a conservation project to create a digital simulacrum of a tied island off the coast of England which will soon be made inaccessible by road. As they scan the environment and interview residents, unexpected digital glitches reveal hidden currents within the land, community and their personal histories, challenging their understanding of memory and preservation and the boundaries between the physical and the digital. In collaboration with Visual Skies and Unform Experiences.

Truth at Dawn

A feature film written and directed by Somayeh.

Set in Iran, this film intertwines the parallel journeys of a mother, Leila, and her daughter, Shirin, across two decades. In the 1990s, 17-year-old Leila endures a traumatic event that leaves her pregnant and disowned by her father. Fleeing to her grandmother’s house, she gives birth to Shirin. Twenty years later, Shirin embarks on a journey to confront her estranged father, Ali, seeking closure.

Dreamr

A narrative short film written and directed by Somayeh.

A poetic sci-fi set in the high-tech world of 2035, Elnaz, a brilliant Iranian coder, develops a revolutionary dream-sharing technology that promises to democratise access to immersive dreams. As she prepares to pitch her idea at DREAMR HQ, Elnaz faces the struggles of assimilating as an immigrant, sexism, ethical dilemmas, and betrayals from colleagues. The film blurs the lines between reality and surreal dream sequences, reflecting Elnaz’s internal conflict between ambition and integrity. Ultimately, "Dreamr" explores the intersection of technology, culture, and personal empowerment as Elnaz battles to stay true to her ideals.