New US Trailer for Acclaimed ‘Shayda’ Film with Zahra Amir Ebrahimi

New US Trailer for Acclaimed ‘Shayda’ Film with Zahra Amir Ebrahimi

by Alex Billington
October 4, 2023
Source: YouTube

“I am not afraid.” Sony Pictures Classics has debuted a new US trailer for the outstanding film Shayda, marking the feature directorial debut of filmmaker Noora Niasari. It first premiered at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year, winning the Audience Award in the World Cinema Dramatic section. I saw it at Sundance and it’s fantastic – one of the best feature debuts of this year. A young Iranian mother named Shayda and her six-year-old daughter find refuge in an Australian women’s shelter during the two weeks of the Iranian New Year. When the girl’s father shows up, it takes all of her courage to fight back and stop him from taking over. The extremely talented Zahra Amir Ebrahimi (also from last year’s Holy Spider) stars, with Osamah Sami, Leah Purcell, Jillian Nguyen, Mojean Aria, Selina Zahednia, Rina Mousavi. Australia has submitted Shayda as their entry for the Academy Awards this year – a great pick. Even if it’s the same trailer as the one from before, happy to bring attention to this terrific film that deserves to be seen.

Here’s the official US trailer (+ new poster) for Noora Niasari’s Shayda, direct from SPC’s YouTube:

You can also watch the other international trailer for Noora Niasari’s Shayda right here to view more.

A young Iranian mother named Shayda (Zar Amir Ebrahimi) and her six-year-old daughter find refuge in an Australian women’s shelter during the two weeks of Iranian New Year (Nowrooz) which is celebrated as a time of renewal and rebirth. Aided by the strong community of women at the refuge they seek their freedom in this new world of possibilities, only to find themselves facing the violence they tried so hard to escape. Shayda is both written and directed by Iranian-Australian filmmaker Noora Niasari, making her feature directorial debut after numerous other short films previously. Produced by Vincent Sheehan and Noora Niasari. This initially premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival earlier this year, where it won an Audience Award. Madman Films released this in Australian cinemas in September. Sony Pictures Classics opens Niasari’s Shayda in select US theaters starting on December 1st, 2023 this fall. It’s worth watching.

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