I was afraid to criticize the Iranian regime in my films — until my friend's mysterious death

Cutaways is a personal essay series where Canadian filmmakers tell the story of how their film was made. This TIFF 2023 edition by director Atefeh Khademolreza focuses on her short film Meteor.

Meteor is the story of the mysterious death of my best friend in Iran, who identified himself as gay, and how his death affected my life and turned me into an activist. It is the story of how difficult it is to be a woman and a member of the LGBTQ+ community in a country like Iran. It is about sadness, strength, and hope.

The film started as a project in the Viral Interventions program created by filmmakers John Greyson and Sarah Flicker — a three-year project that united artists to craft impactful videos addressing HIV/AIDS within the context of the ongoing pandemic — where I was mentored by some incredible filmmakers. It was an intense experience, but the film greatly benefited from that process.

This was at the same time that the "Woman, Life, Freedom" movement began in Iran, sparked by Jina (Mahsa) Amini's murder at the hands of the morality police for not properly wearing her hijab. As I write this, we are on the cusp of the one-year anniversary of Mahsa's untimely demise. Witnessing the resilience of people in Iran standing up for their rights gave me the courage to share my own story without fear and to amplify their voices. 

Growing up under the oppressive regime in Iran meant that I had to constantly censor myself for survival, particularly as a woman. Even after immigrating to Canada, I continued to tiptoe around criticizing the Iranian regime in my films, harbouring hopes of one day returning to Iran. But the "Woman, Life, Freedom" revolution showed me that achieving freedom often demands a significant sacrifice. It ignited the spark within me to create a film that marks my inaugural attempt at unearthing my traumas without any form of self-censorship.

Once I had the story in mind, I started creating a visual style that would capture emotions and ideas in a unique way. I used a technique called rotoscoping, where I painted over live-action footage frame by frame. 

Making Meteor was not just a creative endeavour; it was a deeply personal and profound choice for me. Having witnessed firsthand the formidable challenges of living in a place where one cannot truly be oneself — particularly for women and LGBTQ+ individuals — I felt compelled to share this story with the world.

As I grappled with the tragic loss of my queer friend in Iran, my aspiration was to lend a voice to his experiences and to all those silenced by oppressive systems. I fervently hope the film kindles a sense of solidarity among its viewers and encourages them to ponder the pervasive oppression, not just within their own surroundings but also across the globe.

In Canada, we cherish the principles of self-expression, love without boundaries, and the safeguarding of our rights. With Meteor, I hope to illuminate the myriad challenges people confront in their pursuit of freedom and justice. The film serves as a conduit for us to empathize with the struggles faced by individuals in distant corners of the world, much like we protect our own rights here.

Throughout this creative journey, I had the privilege of collaborating with a remarkable team, each contributing their expertise in diverse domains. I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Navid Fashami, whose musical compositions infused Meteor with profound emotional depth. Producer Sholeh Alemi Fabbri and Good Measure Productions, producer/editor Samuel Kiehoon Lee, and executive producer John Greyson were all of paramount importance. So were the many filmmakers who mentored me through the Viral Interventions programs, like Alison Duke, Sarah Flicker, Richard Fung, Mike Hoolboom, Milada Kovacova, b.h. Yael, Roslyn Kalloo, Ariel Smith, Darien Taylor, and Wayne Wapeemukwa. All of these people were indispensable in shaping the film into what it has become today.

Now, with Meteor having its world premiere at TIFF 2023, I am honoured to have the opportunity to showcase this film to an international audience. It is my earnest hope that this work will cast a spotlight on these critical issues of misogyny and homophobia in Iran, and that it will ignite meaningful discussions around the entire world.

Meteor screens at TIFF 2023 as part of Short Cuts Programme 1 on Thursday, September 14 at 6:15pm.