S03E02: When Art Provokes: Freedom of Expression in Iran

Fractured

According to the UNHCR data, 29,485 Iranians fled their country in 2022. Big part of this group were activists and artists who due to their activity couldn’t freely create in their homeland or couldn’t stay free period. Recently three award-winning filmmakers Mohammad Rasoulof, Mostafa Aleahmad and Jafar Panahi have been arrested in Tehran for “inflaming and disrupting the psychological safety of the community.” The film community, including the largest festivals, actively fights to release them.

In this episode of Fractured we are trying to paint a picture of the life of Iranian artists who not only create but also provoke the government to change and understand their reasons for escaping their country. In a fascinating conversation with Vassilis Koukalani - an actor, theater director and a star of the AppleTV show “Tehran” we are going deep into the everyday reality of Iranian artists and activists as well as refugees who fled to Greece.

Production: ReFOCUS Media Labs (@refocusmedialbs on all social media platforms)

Hosts: Sonia Nandzik-Herman, Rasheed Ghalli

Production team: Sude Fazlollah, Eli Fazlollah, Dawoud Nouri, Rasheed Ghalli, Majid Bakhshi

Mentorship: Douglas Herman

Producers: Sonia Nandzik-Herman, Douglas Herman

Graphic design: Eli Fazlollah

For more designs by Eli on the Women Life Freedom movement go to: ⁠https://refocusmedialabs.org/shop⁠

Music: Intro for Legends by Bonkers Beat Club and Mogul by Blue Steel on Epidemic Sound

To support this podcast and ReFOCUS citizen journalism program go to: ⁠https://refocusmedialabs.org/donate⁠

Get in touch: ⁠[e-mail]⁠