Tehran – Tajikistan has chosen “Black Rabbit, White Rabbit,” the latest film by famous Iranian filmmaker Shahlam Mokli, representing the country in the best international feature film category of Oscar 2026.
The mystery drama, this film is a co-produced by Tajikistan and the United Arab Emirates. It was made with the support of Tajik Films in Tajikistan and produced in Tajik and Persian, Honaronlein reported.
The cast includes a group of well-known Tajik actors: Hasti Momamai, Kibrillo Diliobova, Bezan Davryatov and Iranian actor Babak Karimi. Mokri wrote the script with Nasim Ahmadpour. The producer is Negar Escandalfa.
The film recently won the Vision Asia Award at the Indian International Film Festival – Busan International Film Festival. The next screen of the film will be held at the BFI London Film Festival and the Chicago International Film Festival.
“Suspicious film props, mystical auditions, conspiratorial road incidents, multiple rabbits are woven together in this bold and fascinating drama from Tajikistan,” reads the film’s overview. “The film’s armor suspects the fake firearm is real. They arrive on the set where the actor demands a role. The victim of a car accident fears that her accident is intentional.
Dreamlab Films Production is the fourth film Tajikistan has submitted to the International Oscar Race. No Central Asian countries have been appointed.
“Black Rabbit, White Rabbit” is Mokri’s fifth feature film. His second film, Fish & Cat (2013), won a special award in the Orizzonti (Horizons) section at the Venice Film Festival. The director directed “Aggression” (2017), which was screened at the Berlin International Film Festival, followed by “Crime of Carelessness” (2020), which was screened in Venice and won the Juju Award at the Chicago International Film Festival.
Mokri is a founding member of the ISFA Cinema House Short Film Association. He also served on the association’s board of directors for three terms. In 2003 he was named the nation’s best youth in the arts field by the National Youth Organization.
There were 86 submissions at the 98th Academy Awards. The 15-Film nominee list will be released on December 16th, with the last five candidates announced on January 22nd, 2026. The Oscars will be held on March 15th, 2026.
Photo: “Black Rabbit, White Rabbit” scene
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