WANA (Oct 11) – The Iranian short film “Punishment”, directed by Pouya Mofid, will be screened at the Sharjah International Children and Youth Film Festival and will later participate in two American festivals.

 

The film will be shown from October 5 to 12, 2025, in three screenings at the Vox City Centre Al Zahia Cinema in Sharjah, UAE.

 

“Punishment” has also been selected for the 26th Newport Beach Film Festival in the United States, which will take place from October 16 to 23.

 

Continuing its international journey, the film will then be featured at the 27th Newport Beach Film Festival, held from November 3 to 9, where it will be screened on November 8.

 

Previously, “Punishment” has been showcased at the Ningbo Film Festival in China and DokuFest in Kosovo. The film’s international distribution is handled by Madakto Pictures.

Iranian Short Film “Punishment”. Social media/ WANA News Agency

Iranian Short Film “Punishment”. Social media/ WANA News Agency

The screenplay, written by Mehdi Asghari Azghadi, explores profound human and educational questions. He explains:

 

“Punishment stems from a few essential human questions: How will the next generation reflect the influences they’ve received from us? Which voices have we silenced in our culture, and when these voices mirror our actions, are they reflecting their true nature or merely our own image? If unintended revenge becomes a simple act of ‘punishment,’ how can it lead to the collapse of a person’s— or a child’s—character? What role has punishment played in our educational system? Has it been constructive or destructive?”

 

Speaking about his collaboration with director Pouya Mofid, Asghari Azghadi added:

 

“Pouya Mofid, a young filmmaker, found a shared concern in this screenplay that I wrote years ago. He, too, had a humanistic and critical perspective toward the educational system and was drawn to the film’s complex emotional moments. Despite the challenges of directing children and handling sensitive emotional scenes, he took a bold first step with this debut film—its selection by several major festivals proves the significance of that step.”

 

Synopsis

Set in a primary school, Punishment follows a teacher who, after harshly punishing a black student, causes the child to develop a severe speech impediment. Doctors diagnose the condition as a psychological trauma. The student’s family then obtains a legal warrant for the teacher’s arrest.

 

Main cast: Mohammad Sedighi Mehr, Shayan Darmipouran, and Sahar Aghasi.

Iranian Short Film “Punishment”. Social media/ WANA News Agency

Iranian Short Film “Punishment”. Social media/ WANA News Agency

Crew:

  • Director and Producer – Pouya Mofid
  • Screenwriter – Mehdi Asghari Azghadi
  • Cinematographer – Ehsan Ranjbar
  • Makeup – Milad Behdad
  • Production Designer & Costume Designer – Omid Akbari
  • Production Manager – Kamyab Mehrabi
  • Associate Producer – Ali Nemati
  • Photographer – Bahram Khosrojerdy
  • Editor – Elnaz Ebadollahi
  • Music – Payam Azadi
  • Sound Designer – Amir Saman Shahamat
  • VFX – Amin Enteshari
  • Assistant Directors – Mohammad Afzali, Nima Nobahar, Hourash Tark
  • Colorist – Mohammad Salimi
  • Public Relations Manager – Naghmeh Danesh Ashtiani