Logline
In a world ruled by crows and discrimination, a young girl decides to fight for justice.
Director Statement
This film is dedicated to the memory of 22-year-old Azerbaijani Turk Hadis Najafi, who was killed after being hit by 6 bullets from security forces during protests in Iran on September 21, 2022, and to those fighting against gender, ethnic and cultural discrimination in Iran.
Details
Idea and financial support: Azerbaijan Cultural Society of Northern California
Director: Nazrin Aghamaliyeva
Producer: Rashid Aghamaliyev
Country: Azerbaijan, United States, Czech Republic
Duration: 9 minutes, 19 seconds
Format: DCP / ProRes / Mp4
Production: ANIMAFILM Studio
© Rashid Aghamaliyev / ANIMAFILM Studio
© Azerbaijan Cultural Society of Northern California
2023
“I am going to the protests with excitement. A few years from now, I want to look back and feel happy that I attended the protests and everything has changed since then.”
- Hadis Najafi
Background
Download the full text here:
"The hijab is used as a tool of repression and compliance for women in Iran and is mandatory in public. Hadis Najafi, 23, was a part of the new generation of Azerbaijani Turk youth, conscious to both gender and ethnic struggle in Iran. She enjoyed sharing videos about fashion and styling her hair on social media, all without wearing the hijab. Her Instagram bio stated in Turkish, “if there’s another me, replace me.” A TikToker shot dead while protesting for women’s rights, Hadis Najafi has become a symbol for Azerbaijani resistance in Iran."
(An excerpt from "Hadis Najafi" paper by Azerbaijan Cultural Society of Northern California)
Screenings
2023
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June 1 - YARAT Contemporary Art Space (Azerbaijan) - National Premiere
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June 11-17 - Annecy International Animation Film Festival (France) - Competition - International Premiere
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August 4-12 - DokuFest, International Documentary and Short Film Festival (Kosovo) - Out of Competition
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August 16-19 - Animist Tallinn, International Animation Festival (Estonia) - Out of Competition
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September 6-10, 2023 - Almaty Animation Festival (Kazakhstan) – Competition. Best Visual Design Award
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September 6-10, 2023 - ANIMAFILM International Animation Festival (Azerbaijan) - Out of Competition
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September 11-24, 2023 - Chaniartoon - International Comic & Animation Festiva (Greece)
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September 15-22, 2023 - Sevil International Women's Documentary Film Festival (Azerbaijan) - Competition
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September 18-23 - Procida Film Festival (Italy) – Competition
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September 21-24 - Animation Volda Festival (Norway) - Out of Competition (Cultural Showcase Program)
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September 26 – October 1 - Animasyros International Animation Festival (Greece) - Out of Competition (International Panorama)
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September 26 – October 1 - DokuBaku International Documentary Film Festival (Azerbaijan) – Competition
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September 27-30 - Golden Grape Short Film Festival (Georgia) – Competition
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October 2-8 - Festival War on Screen (France) – Competition
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October 2-8 - ANIMAGE - International Animation Festival of Pernambuco (Brazil) – Competition
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October 2-8 - BALKANIMA - European Animated Film Festival - Out of Competition (World Panorama)
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October 4-8 - LINOLEUM Contemporary Animation and Media Art Festival (Ukraine) - Out of Competition
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October 4-8 - Tallgrass Film Festival (USA) – Competition
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Ocotber 6-15 - Animest – Bucharest International Animation Film Festival (Romania) – Competition
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October 8-12 - Korkut Ata Turkic World Film Festival (Azerbaijan)
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October 17-21 - St. John's International Women's Film Festival (Canada) - Out of Competition
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October 23-29 - Canlandıranlar Animation Film Festival (Turkey) – Competition
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October 20-24 - Bucheon International Animation Festival (South Korea) – Competition
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November 13-8 - TOFUZI International Animated Film Festival (Georgia) - Out of Competition
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November 16-19 - Rising of Lusitania - AnimaDoc Film Festival (Poland) - Out of Competition
2024
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March 1-31 - Amnesty International Film Festival - Audience Award Competition
Partners
Team
Director
Nazrin Aghamaliyeva
Producer
Rashid Aghamaliyev
Consultant
Masud Panahi
Screenplay
Ismail Iman
Nazrin Aghamaliyeva
Lead animator
Andrea Szelesová
Editor
Jorge Sánchez Calderón
Character Design
Sevinj Abbas
Andrea Szelesová
Nazrin Aghamaliyeva
Background artists
Nazrin Aghamaliyeva
Olga Aghamaliyeva
Sevinj Abbas
Kabira Hashimova
Storyboard artist
Kubra Binnetova
Animators
Andrea Szelesová
Aydan Hasanova
Firangiz Baghirova
Petr Mischinger
Nina Ovsová
Megan McSeveney
Abhranil Neogy
Prasad Babu Konda
Tamara Gogishvili
Alexandra Netunaeva
Satya Prakash
Coloring artists
Andrea Szelesová
Tamara Gogishvili
Arseni Okruashvili
Giorgi Kikvadze
Alexandra Netunaeva
Abhranil Neogy
Compositing
Andrea Szelesová
Text editors
Rafig Mammadli
Nitya Ramlogan
Graphic designer
Seymur Allahyarli
Composer
Ondřej Zavadil
Sound designer / Sound mix
Vojtěch Zavadil
Music
The Path of Thunder (vocalise)
Performer: Sevda Alekbarzadeh
Composer: Gara Garayev
Released on: 24.07.2014
Publishing Company: mikpro LLC
Music instrument performers
Saz - Elkhan Ilyasov
Cello - Vilém Vlček
Voice actors
Hadis Najafi - Zohre Karimi
1st Police officer - Mohammadreza M.
2nd Police officer - Amir
Photo in ending credits by
Instagram: shiirin_najafii
Special thanks
Our family
Masud Panachi
Sevda Alekbarzadeh
Andrea Szelesová
Parviz Isagov (PRoMete)
Elchin Hami Akhundov
Bahar Zeynalli
Alice Buffard
Sarah Guyot
Jorge Sánchez Calderón
Rafig Mammadli
Seymur Allahyarli
Rufat Mammadov
Zurab Diasamidze
Fariba Šumanská
Sangram Borse
Aydin Miyanali
Ramin Jabbarli
Ahmad Obali
Forough Asadpour
Farzin Farzad
This film was produced by ANIMAFILM Studio.
This film was made with the financial support of the Azerbaijan Cultural Society of Northern California.
Akinchi platform provided media support for the film.
Azerbaijan Animation Association provided media support for the film.
Skwigly Online Animation Magazine provided media support for the film.
© Rashid Aghamaliyev / ANIMAFILM Studio
© Azerbaijan Cultural Society of Northern California
2023