Noori Pictures at the Oriental Women Film Festival
We are pleased to announce that three of our films,;The Blue Veiled by Rakhshan Banietemad, Maydegol by Sarvnaz Alambeigi, and Hava, Maryam, Ayesha by Sahraa Karimi will be screened at The Third Oriental Women’s Film Festival in Koblenz Germany.
In an era marked by growing polarization, xenophobia, and the dehumanizing effects of war and hate, the need for cultural exchange and mutual understanding has never been more pressing. Art, particularly cinema, possesses a unique ability to connect diverse experiences and ignite empathy between seemingly distant worlds.
The Third Oriental Women’s Film Festival in Koblenz, Organized by the German-Oriental Culture Connection and held from September 26 to 30, 2025, is dedicated to showcasing films by and about women from Oriental societies.
According to Firouzeh Görgen-Ossouli, the festival’s director, the objective is to “build bridges through art” and foster dialogue in times when understanding “the other” is becoming increasingly difficult. The festival focuses on the central role women play within their families and societies as educators, caretakers, and often as silent leaders. Their influence is subtle but powerful, and their stories are frequently overlooked, especially in public discourse outside their home countries. By bringing these narratives to the screen, the festival challenges Western misconceptions and facilitates cross-cultural dialogue.
Screening Schedule for Noori Picture Films :
The Blue Veiled — Sunday, September 28, 2025 — 11:00
Hava, Maryam, Ayesha — Tuesday, September 30, 2025 — 17:30
Maydegol — Tuesday, September 30, 2025 — 20:00
The Blue Veiled (1995) — Directed by Rakhshan Banietemad
A story about an unlikely romance in rural Iran, The Blue Veiled highlights the tension between love and social expectations. Rakhshan Banietemad, often hailed as the First Lady of Iranian Cinema, is one of Iran’s most prominent filmmakers. Her work blends social realism with poignant emotional depth, consistently portraying the complexities of Iranian society through the lens of women’s experiences.
Acclaimed actress Fatemeh Motamed-Arya, celebrated both for her powerful performances and her human rights advocacy, will attend the festival to present the film. Despite facing political restrictions, including travel bans, Motamed-Arya remains a formidable presence in Iranian cinema.
Hava, Maryam, Ayesha (2019) — Directed by Sahraa Karimi
This film from Afghanistan presents the intertwined stories of three women confronting personal and societal crises in Kabul. Each navigates the pressures of patriarchal expectations while seeking autonomy over her own life. Sahraa Karimi, the first and only woman to head Afghan Film, has become an international voice for Afghan women, using cinema to advocate for their resilience and dignity.
Maydegol (2023) — Directed by Sarvnaz Alambeigi
A poignant documentary about a young Afghan refugee in Iran who dreams of becoming a Muay Thai fighter. Her story symbolizes empowerment, perseverance, and hope in the face of adversity. Director Sarvnaz Alambeigi is known for her empathetic storytelling, focusing on the challenges and aspirations of marginalized communities, particularly women and children.
At the heart of the festival’s success is its artistic direction. Farah Ossouli, an accomplished visual artist and the festival’s curator in Iran, brings a multidisciplinary perspective rooted in Persian miniature painting and narrative visual art. Her involvement ensures that the films selected are not only artistically compelling but also socially and politically relevant.
Venue:
Odeon-Apollo-Kino Koblenz
Löhrstraße 78 & 88, 56068 Koblenz, Germany
We look forward to sharing these powerful works with international audiences and to celebrating women’s cinema together in Koblenz.