As War Rages, Iranian Cinema Takes on Fresh Urgency: ‘We Have to Process What We’ve Been Through’
As conflict continues in Iran, Iranian cinema is experiencing renewed global attention as a means of cultural expression and healing. Filmmaker Arya Ghavamian, through initiatives like Cinema Tehran, is reviving banned and classic Iranian films for international audiences. These works, such as 'Bashu: the Little Stranger,' are seen as vital tools for processing trauma and understanding Iran's historical and current struggles.
- ▪Arya Ghavamian co-founded Cinema Tehran to screen banned and classic Iranian films globally.
- ▪The restored version of 'Bashu: the Little Stranger' won best restored film at the 2025 Venice Film Festival.
- ▪Film screenings of Iranian classics are increasingly in demand worldwide, especially after recent political unrest and the death of director Bahram Beyzaie.
- ▪Events like Disco Tehran and Cinema Tehran serve as spaces of resistance and community for the Iranian diaspora.
- ▪'Bashu' and 'The Runner' are set during the Iran-Iraq War and reflect themes of survival and displacement.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Home Film Global May 1, 2026 8:49am PT As War Rages, Iranian Cinema Takes on Fresh Urgency: ‘We Have to Process What We’ve Been Through’ By Nick Vivarelli Courtesy Disco Tehran In Rome on the evening of April 4, as Iran was being pounded by U.S. and Israeli missiles, a large crowd celebrated the Persian new year in the Eternal City’s Alcazar club dancing to Middle East beats, including vintage Iranian tracks by iconic pop star Googosh who was incarcerated in Tehran during the early 1980s and now lives in L.A.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Variety.
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