Tehran – Venice Days, an independent sidebar at the Venice Film Festival, has announced the lineup for the 22nd edition, which will be held in films from Iran from August 27th to September 6th.
The 10-film competition lineup compiled by Gaia Fuller, artistic director of Venice Days, includes politically recharged dramas and documentaries from Mexico to Ukraine and Kenya. Director Amir Azitzi’s “Inside Amir” is an Iranian film that explores the director’s fears and doubts when considering immigration, ISNA reported.
The film is described as a love letter to the city of Tehran and a personal quest for doubts that surface before the act of leaving his country.
“Inside Amir” follows a young man from Tehran on the crisis of migration. In the midst of scattered memories, unfinished conversations and slow days of movement, he is faced with decisions he has not yet made in perfect condition. The only thing he refuses to let go is his bike – a companion passing through the city streets, a symbol of his past.
According to Ajitsi, “The film shakes between the past and present – friendship, late-night anxiety, and city amir are still tied together. It is a quiet meditation on the emotional distance between staying and leaving.
“The film is rooted in personal experience, but aims to speak in a universal cinematic language. It depicts a young man floating in a city full of memories, loneliness, and quiet transformation. I am drawn to poetry of ordinary life.
“Instead of focusing on plots and dialogue, the film explores existence, space, and human vulnerability. I wanted to observe reality without judgment or spectacle – just the gaze of a patient who trusts the audience’s sensitivity.
“Inside Amir” is not a statement of migration, identity, or politics. It is a human story about a floating person. “I believe that if the film is honest, even a stillness can connect deeply with the audience,” Ajitzi pointed out.
Amir Ajitsi, 41, began his career in film in 2003. He worked as an assistant to famous Iranian filmmakers and directors, including Keanush Ayali and Rakhshan Banietemad. He directed several short films, including The Idiot (2007), Two Cold Meals for One (2009), and Family Portrait (2009).
His documentaries Wolf (2012), Nature and Urban Iran (2013), and Home (2022) focused on local and environmental themes and received critical acclaim. His first feature, Comparity (2014), was screened at the Beijing International Film Festival and Med Film Festival in Rome, and won the Special Juju Award. His second feature, “Two Dogs” (2020), competed in Warsaw and won awards at Bangalore and other festivals.
The Venice Days (also known as Giornate Degli Autori) is organized by the National Association of Filmmakers and Authors. The 22nd edition of Venice Days will be held alongside the Main Venice Film Festival.
Day 22 Venice Days features a selection of films, including the world premiere. This will win three awards, including a 20,000 euro prize, including the Luigi de Laurentiis Award Lion of the Future and three awards announced by Giornate Degli Autori for the first film. Additionally, special events and screenings will be held.
The Venice Film Festival itself is the oldest film festival in the world, founded in 1932, with the 82nd edition being held this year.
Photo: “Inside Amir” scene
SS/SAB