Mehrdad Oskouei’s (The Last Days of Winter, Starless Dreams) masterful observational documentary Sunless Shadows depicts life inside a Tehran juvenile detention centre, where a group of teenage girls serve sentences for the murder of abusive male family members. With remarkable candour, these girls share details of the harrowing and often violent circumstances that precipitated their crimes and reflect upon the grave consequences for the lives still to follow. Despite the severity of their situation, Oskouei finds traces of hope in the young inmates for whom incarceration offers a sanctuary from an even more oppressive world outside.

Please be advised this film contains references to suicide, self harm, violence and domestic abuse which some viewers might find distressing.

Screening includes a Q&A with director Mehrdad Oskouei and producer Siavash Jamali, hosted by Aisha Jamal.

This film screens as a UK Premiere.

Read an essay on Sunless Shadows by Hossein Eidizadeh

Join us on Wednesday 9th September, 1pm, for a free masterclass with Mehrdad Oskouei. Register here.

Available: Block 1 (Wed 9th Sept midday – Sat 12th Sept midnight BST)

Please note: this film is only available to view in the UK.

“Nominated for the Open City Award Mehrdad Oskouei is an Iranian filmmaker, producer, photographer and researcher born in Tehran in 1969 who later graduated in film direction from the University of Arts. His films have been screened at numerous festivals both at home and abroad to great critical acclaim, making him one of the major Iranian documentary makers. ”