The article discusses the efforts of Iranian film historian Hadi Alipanah and curator Afsun Moshiry to revive and showcase the works of the short film collective Cinema-ye Azad, which sought to represent an authentic view of life under the Shah in Iran before being silenced by the regime post-1979.
The article highlights the significance of the Cinema-ye Azad collective, formed in Tehran in 1969 by young filmmakers who envisioned a non-commercial cinema that authentically represented life during the Shah's monarchy. Their pioneering efforts came to a halt with the 1979 Revolution, as the new Islamic regime suppressed their work, leading to obscurity for many significant films. Despite this, the revolutionary spirit and artistic contributions of these filmmakers have remained influential despite the lack of cataloging and recognition in mainstream Iranian cinema.
Film historian Hadi Alipanah stumbled upon this forgotten movement and made it his mission to recover and preserve a part of their cinematic legacy. Together with German-Iranian curator Afsun Moshiry, they have initiated a project to showcase some of these films, accompanying this revival with a contextual understanding of their historical importance. Recently, they partnered with the Munich film magazine Revü to present these works at Werkstattkino, creating an opportunity for audiences to engage with the rich yet undervalued heritage of Iranian filmmaking.
This initiative not only brings attention to neglected cinematic art but also serves as a form of resistance against cultural erasure. By uncovering and presenting these films, Alipanah and Moshiry advocate for the acknowledgment and appreciation of Iranian film history, suggesting that recovering lost narratives is crucial in the context of ongoing struggles against censorship and oppression in the region.
