Zar Amir Ebrahimi Cast as Forough in Tina Gharavi’s Biopic
Forough Farrokhzad’s Life Returns to Cinema With Zar Amir Ebrahimi in the Starring Role
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A new feature film about the life of Iranian poet and filmmaker Forough Farrokhzad is moving ahead in pre-production. Zar Amir Ebrahimi has been confirmed to play the lead role. The project is directed by award-winning filmmaker Tina Gharavi.
The film, currently titled Forough: Let Us Believe in the Beginning of the Cold Season, will explore the turbulent life and artistry of Forough, one of Iran’s most groundbreaking cultural figures. The story is told backwards and through flashbacks, following a woman who struggles to find her voice in a world unwilling to face the uncomfortable truths of female desire and ambition.
Filmmakers
Director & Producer: Tina Gharavi
Writers: Tina Gharavi, Mischa Sadeghi
Production Company: Bridge + Tunnel Productions (UK)
Tina Gharavi is a Sundance and BAFTA-nominated director and showrunner. She has worked across documentary and drama, with acclaimed credits including I Am Nasrine. Her career spans international projects, often focusing on outsiders, and bold voices. Gharavi is currently developing multiple international features, including this long-anticipated portrait of Forough.
Cast
Zar Amir Ebrahimi as Forough
Arian Moayed as Ebrahim Golestan
Zar Amir Ebrahimi, who won Best Actress at Cannes for Holy Spider, has become one of the most acclaimed Iranian talents on the global stage. She has also been recognized with awards at the Palm Springs International Film Festival and the Cinema for Peace Awards for her performance in Tatami (2023). Taking on the role of Forough Farrokhzad brings powerful resonance, linking one of today’s most courageous Iranian actresses with one of the country’s most revolutionary cultural icons.
Arian Moayed, an Iranian-American actor, producer, and director, will portray Ebrahim Golestan, the influential Iranian writer, translator, and filmmaker. He is known for his role as Stewy Hosseini in HBO’s Succession and for appearances in Marvel’s Spider-Man: No Way Home and Netflix’s Inventing Anna. Moayed has received Emmy and Screen Actors Guild nominations for his performances. His international reputation adds further weight to the project and highlights the cultural importance of Golestan, whose literary and cinematic legacy remains central to modern Iranian arts.
Production and Significance
The project is listed as an international co-production with ties to the United Kingdom, Denmark, France, and Greece. Bridge + Tunnel Productions, based in Newcastle, is serving as the lead production company. In July 2024, the film was selected for the Venice Gap-Financing Market, a prestigious industry platform at the Venice International Film Festival that connects projects in development with international investors and co-producers.
The international co-production highlights how Forough’s legacy continues to attract global attention. Her life and work inspire across literature, cinema, and women’s rights. Bringing her story to the screen with Zar Amir Ebrahimi in the lead and Arian Moayed as Ebrahim Golestan is set to be a landmark in Middle Eastern storytelling on film. With Tina Gharavi’s bold directorial approach, the project could resonate widely with international audiences.
What Comes Next
The film is still in pre-production and further announcements are expected in the coming months, including details on additional cast members, filming schedule, and international partners involved in distribution and financing. Many in the industry will be watching closely as the project develops in the coming months.