Shayda MIFF @ CinefestOZ | Busselton Opening Night

Busselton rolls out the red carpet for Opening Night and the first screening of a finalist Shayda MIFF@CinefestOZ for the CinefestOZ Film Prize.

See the film’s makers and talent walk the red carpet, along with the high-profile Jury.

• 5:30pm Arrival at Orana Cinemas for some red carpet action, enjoy a welcome drink and the red carpet
• 6:20pm Take your seats for the film screening
• 8:30pm Onwards enjoy the after party at Shelter Brewing Co.

SYNOPSIS

An Iranian woman living in Australia, Shayda finds refuge in a women’s shelter with her frightened 6-year-old daughter, Mona. Having fled her husband, Hossein, and filed for divorce, Shayda struggles to maintain normalcy for Mona. Buoyed by the approach of Nowruz (Persian New Year), she tries to forge a fresh start with new and unfettered freedoms. But when a judge grants Hossein visitation rights, he re-enters their life, stoking Shayda’s fear that he’ll attempt to take Mona back to Iran.

Drawn from personal experiences, Iranian-Australian filmmaker Noora Niasari’s powerful debut feature is a beautifully crafted, poetic vérité portrayal of courage and compassion, anchored by a heart-rending performance by Zar Amir Ebrahimi (2022 Cannes’ best actress award winner for Holy Spider).

After the screening, enjoy the screening party where you can enjoy delicious local food, and a variety of drinks on offer at the cash bar.

Pair this event with the In Conversation Lunch, on Thursday 31 August at Rustico, for the complete festival experience. Go behind the scenes with filmmakers and talent to explore the making of the film.

Check out our Guide to CinefestOZ and start planning your trip now!