Ballerina is the story of an 8-year-old girl who is about to have a dance performance but due to the Iranian rules, her father and other men are prohibited to watch the ballet.
It is vital for Mana, the ballerina, to have her father watch her cause she has lost her mother… the ballet starts and children bloke on the stage but they see no men between spectators.
Mana refuses to start the dance and unites with other children to go outside to perform for her father… it is a portrayal of a united civil protest.
Soheil Babaei
Soheil Babaei, born in Iran in 1991, started as a radio actor at nine. He is now a scriptwriter, director, and actor, with works featured at festivals like the Fajr Theater Festival and the Tehran Short Film Festival. He has won several awards, including the Golden Mask of Europe at the Russian Art Festival in St. Petersburg.
Farima Khalili
Born: August 18, 1993, Tehran, Iran
Farima Khalili is an accomplished art manager and executive director with over nine years of experience in the film and theater industries. With a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Theatre Directing, she founded RAW Company to promote Iranian artists on international stages. Her notable works include The White Tree, which garnered multiple awards, and The Ballerina, a poignant critique of societal restrictions on art. Passionate about fostering collaboration among diverse talents, Farima embodies the philosophy that “Union in Diversity” drives impactful change in the arts.
Director Statement
This film highlights the restrictions faced by artists in a society where government rules limit women’s freedom of expression. In Iran, these limitations stifle creativity and talent. However, the film represents a new generation that challenges these constraints, seeking to break free and redefine their artistic freedom. Through their work, these young artists push back against the status quo and strive for a more open and inclusive future.
