جماعت

Followed by a talk with Sahand Kabiri and Jowe Harfouche (17.10.)

“Mirrored in the cup, we see the face of the beloved we favor.
Alas, you are unaware of the joys of the wine we savor.”

A line from a 14th-century Hafez poem opens Sahand Kabiri’s vibrant feature debut, hinting at the defiant joy of Tehran’s underground youth culture we are about to witness. Fueled by personal experience and pulsating techno beats, the film boldly sidesteps censorship to capture a queer, anti-patriarchal generation who are defying modesty laws and societal constraints. Centered on Hamed (Keyvan Mohammadi) and his boyfriend Raman (Faraaz Modiri), the plot unfolds as friends prepare a clandestine farewell party. Their conversations interweave humor and heartbreak, tackling taboo subjects with organic grit. Through rhythmic storytelling and vivid characters, Kabiri frames their struggles—both universal and uniquely Iranian—with infectious energy and unapologetic rebellion. A defiant ode to resilience and a cry for self-determination, The Crowd pulses with the rhythm of a generation demanding to exist on its own terms. (BH)

Sahand Kabiri is a director and screenwriter based in Tehran.

Jowe Harfouche is a cultural organizer and film programmer. He managed the Culture and Ideas portfolio for Open Society-MENA up until 2024, and NAAS | Network of Arab Alternative Screens from 2016 to 2022 establishing it as a nonprofit in both Beirut and Berlin. He currently lives in Berlin and works with ALFILM as film curator.