NADER SAEIVAR KEEPS FAITH WITH JAFAR PANAHI
The Iranian filmmaker premieres his Berlin-set drama 'Hijamat' without his collaborator — but stays connected across continents.
Iranian director Nader Saeivar just debuted his new drama 'Hijamat' at Karlovy Vary, but there's one crucial person missing from the celebration: his best friend and creative partner Jafar Panahi, who edited and produced the film but remains unable to leave Iran.
But distance hasn't dimmed their bond. "I speak to him every day," Saeivar tells The Hollywood Reporter, painting a picture of two filmmakers staying creatively entangled despite the miles and obstacles between them. Panahi's fingerprints are all over the Berlin-set project — his artistic vision threaded through every frame — even though he couldn't be there to walk the red carpet.
The film's title, 'Hijamat,' refers to an ancient wellness practice, and Saeivar is passionate about its power. "Everybody needs" this time-honored tradition, he explains, suggesting the movie itself offers something just as essential: a bridge between artists separated by circumstance, and a story that spans cultures and continents.
It's a testament to modern filmmaking's resilience — proof that creative collaboration doesn't need a passport.
Sources · The Hollywood Reporter