This is the film the Iranian government doesn't want you to see.
That's how Persepolis Pictures, the production company behind "I Am Neda," describes the 2012 Cannes American Pavilion finalist. A look at the trailer solidifies this claim, as it introduces the true story of Neda Agha Soltan, a fearless protester who was killed during anti-government demonstrations following the 2009 presidential election in Iran. The film follows the last 24 hours of Neda's life, culminating in the live broadcast of her murder.
Since her death, Neda has become a symbol for the Green Movement, as the period has come to be called, remembered for her steadfast defiance in the face of seemingly unending tyranny in her country. The film, directed by Nicole Kian Sadighi (who also plays Neda in the film), highlights the female figure's impact on human rights issues in Iran and her legacy as an instigator of the Arab Spring in the Middle East.
Check out the trailer of "I am Neda," which won the Best Picture Award at the 2012 World Music and Independent Film Festival in Washington, D.C., in the video above, and let us know what you think of Sadighi's work in the comments section below.