Feminity

Awards
Nominations

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Selections
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Cast and Crew

84min | Documentary

زنانگی

plot

Everyone has a unique story!

In the heart of Tehran’s forgotten corners, five women—Sanaz, Saedeh, Tala, Ladan, and Beheshteh—seek shelter not just from the cold, but from pasts marked by addiction, homelessness, and family rejection. Set inside a women’s night shelter in the city’s southwest, Femininity offers an unfiltered, deeply human portrait of resilience. Through raw conversations, fleeting joys, and painful memories, the film explores what it means to survive as a woman on the margins of Iranian society. Each woman carries a unique story, yet they are united by a shared desire: to feel seen, to feel safe, and to rebuild, one step at a time. Without narration or judgment, the film immerses us in their reality—with its chaos, warmth, cruelty, and unexpected tenderness.

Festivals

Best Film – Iran International Documentary Film Festival (CinemaVérité) –  Tehran, Iran – 2017

Honorable Mention – Iran International Documentary Film Festival (CinemaVérité) –  Tehran, Iran – 2017

Valentina Pedicini Award for Human Rights – LIFE AFTER OIL International Film Festival –  Sassari, Sardegna, Italy – 2022

Film Catalog
News

“Feminity” Selected for Regards d’Iran

The documentary Feminity, directed by Mohsen Ostad Ali, has been officially selected for the main section of Regards d’Iran 2023, a renowned festival dedicated to Iranian documentary and independent cinema. Taking place from February 3 to 5, 2023, in Paris, France, the festival serves as a significant platform for showcasing Iranian films to international audiences.
The film follows the lives of five women residing in a women’s shelter in southwestern Tehran, exploring their struggles and aspirations for a better future. Previously, Feminity has been screened at prestigious festivals such as the Kolkata International Film Festival, Salerno Film Festival, and London International Documentary Festival. The film’s international distribution is managed by Raft Films, ensuring its continued presence at major global festivals.

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“Feminity” Selected for Life After Oil Film Festival

The upcoming 9th Life After Oil International Film Festival in Sardinia, Italy, will feature the documentary “Feminity” in its competitive section. Directed by Mohsen Ostad Ali and produced by Alireza Alavian, the film follows the stories of five homeless women living in a special care center in Tehran.

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“Femininity” at London Documentary Festival

“Femininity,” a documentary directed by Mohsen Ostad Ali and produced by Alireza Alavian, has been selected for screening at the London International Documentary Festival. The film follows the stories of five homeless women residing in a special care facility in Tehran.

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Documentary Review: Femininity (2020)

A documentary that is shocking due to the truths it communicates. In his third, but first documentary feature, Mohsen Ostad Ali continues the recent legacy of Iranian films that present brutal truths in the most artful and realistic way possible.

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Cast and Crew

Research and directing:
Mohsen Ostad Ali
Producer:
Alireza Alavian
Cinematographer:
Farhad Talebinezhad
Editing:
Babak Heidari
Sound Deigning and Mixing:
Alireza Alavian
Music:
Sattar Oraki
Sound Recordist:
Ali Alavi
Colour Correction:
Hamidreza Fatoorechiyan
Sindokht Rahimian
Production Manager:
Salim Qasemi
Executive Producer:
Nasrin Abdi
Still Photographer:
Mahmood Hoseini
Programmer and Assistant Director:
Yasaman Cherakhali