Nava Nemati, an actress known for her roles in Barcelona, Pink Line, and 180 Degrees, has made her directorial debut with the short film Unripe. The 14-minute film follows the story of Ava (played by Ainaz Azarhosh), who is not ready to act in a theater production based on Rembrandt’s painting Lucrecia. The painting depicts the moment of suicide of a woman named Lucrecia, who was a victim of rape.

Unripe is Nemati’s first film that tackles the subject of rape. The film will be screened at the upcoming 39th edition of the Tehran International Short Film Festival, which is considered the most important short film festival in Iran. The festival, which focuses on short films, was founded in 1983 and is organized by the Youth Cinema Association.

This year’s festival is particularly significant as it is now a qualifying festival for the Academy Awards® (Oscars). The winner of the Grand Prix at TISFF will become eligible for Oscar® consideration. The festival started as a special section in the Fajr International Film Festival in the years 1979 to 1982, and after the establishment of the Iranian Youth Cinema Society, it became an independent festival that supports young talents in short films and amateur cinema.