Iranian Director Films Secretly, Faces Prison for New Drama

Writer-director Mahnaz Mohammadi's second feature film, 'Roya,' will have its world premiere in the Panorama program at the Berlin International Film Festival on February 14, 2026. The film was made underground in Iran without official permission, as Mohammadi herself has faced severe restrictions and persecution for her filmmaking and activism, including previous arrests and a prison sentence.

The drama centers on Roya, an Iranian teacher imprisoned for her beliefs, who must choose between a forced televised confession or enduring solitary confinement. The film explores how such conditions reshape perception and identity, making resistance fragile. Mohammadi stated that the film draws from her personal experiences and those of many others facing suppression.

Turkish actress Melisa Sözen was cast in the lead role after Mohammadi was deeply moved by Sözen's performance in 'Winter Sleep.' The director felt a strong connection to Sözen's ability to convey emotion through silence. The film's aesthetics reflect its themes of memory, suppression, and trauma, employing a non-linear, fragmented structure to represent the unconscious.

Mohammadi views cinema as a vital form of resistance, countering the fear induced by silence. She emphasizes that suppression can come from regimes, families, or individuals, leading to a profound loss of certainty. Making 'Roya' required Mohammadi to isolate herself, mirroring the film's exploration of loneliness and the sacrifices made for artistic expression. She sees hope not as a destination but as a way of living, with cinema being integral to her practice.