RISE used the power of film to humanise the intangible, capturing the defiant spirit of Iran's #WomanLifeFreedom.

In the words of the Writer-Director:

"Iranian girls have never been the shrinking violets that Western media and news have tried to portray us as. In RISE we show the world the beauty in our rage and in our hope."

Dr Maya Angelou’s estate was so moved when watching RISE, that they granted special access for us to use the infamous feminist poem ‘Still I Rise".

In the winter of 2022 Iran erupted after the 'morality police' killed Mahsa Jina Amini for her improper headscarf, a female-led resistance was born.

By February 2023, the regime stated it had arrested tens of thousands of protesters.

Iranian artists, rappers, creatives, have been arrested and executed for their activism.

The topic in the film is very risky for Iranians to openly create.

Hence RISE is a world-first; never before have Iran's 'morality police' been shown killing a girl in a recreation/drama.

This means there were real sacrifices involved in the making of RISE - many of the Iranian creatives involved have exiled themselves from ever returning to see their families in Iran again, and this was a heavy emotional decision. And there is risk of retribution to those who do return.

Consequently, the female Writer-Director, who is a dual national of the UK and Iran, has remained anonymous and is using an alias. However, she felt it crucial to tell this story - no matter the personal cost.

She also chose political refugees to star in the leading roles, both the lead actress and the female officer are refugees, giving them a voice and a platform was an important part in conveying the overall message of the film.

Based on real-life accounts from Iranian refugees.

The film shows the day-in-the life of Niloo, a joyous 16-year-old teenager in Iran.

Niloo’s story takes a turn when the ‘morality police’ arrest her ‘improper’ hijab. She fights back (like the many lionesses of Iran) but she’s flung into the back of a van and taken to a ‘re-education’ centre.

There they interview her, and a female officer is shocked by the level of violence unleashed on Niloo by her colleague.

All the while we hear Maya Angelou's ‘Still I Rise’ as a powerful VO.

And when she dies, flowers grow from her corpse.

And from every splutter of blood a butterfly is born from her lifeless body.

Symbolising the birth of a revolution.

Situation:

The brand had always veered towards docu-style content - due to the very small budgets available.

However, there was a push by the Writer-Director to approach their brief differently - by not allowing the budget to confine them.

As there was already too much reportage content around the topic & people were desensitised.

She chose beauty and rage in a style that would arrest the viewer.

Brief:

The charity gives a voice to global female issues, create content that showcases the true sentiment of the Woman Life Freedom movement from the perspective of Iranian women.

£40k for production only, and no media budget.

Objectives:

By the spring-summer of 2023, the conversation of Woman Life Freedom had died down, keep the sentiment of the movement alive through film and bring Iranian women at the forefront of the PR comms when doing so.

Production needed to be hyper-aware of the real risks.

For 40k. It was a huge challenge.

Last-minute the insurance company advised against Turkey - as there was risk of Iranians involved being kidnapped and arrested. This happened 2.5 weeks before filming.

It coincided with the arrival of the Iranian Foreign-Minister to release kidnappers from Turkish prisons.

https://www.iranintl.com/en/202301194444

The Producer saved-the-day, quickly pivoting to Spain.

Due to an inherent fear inside Iranians (even in the diaspora), two actresses dropped out 2 days before flying.

Our producers, had the near-impossible task of searching ALL of Europe to find an OPTION C with only 48 hrs to go.

On the day of travel – the actress who plays the officer, her paranoia set-in, believing the shoot was a trap, our producers eased her paranoia to get her to the airport.

Sometimes, it feels like a dream, this film has changed our lives forever.