POLITICAL THRILLER TATAMI TO HAVE ITS WORLD PREMIERE AT VENICE FILM FESTIVAL 

The first Israeli-Iranian film collaboration has been selected for Orizzonti competition

Tatami - the first feature film to be co-directed by an Iranian and an Israeli filmmaker - will receive its world premiere at the prestigious Venice Film Festival between September 9-30. The artistic collaboration comes against the background of an explosive period in Iran and is intended to shine a spotlight on the extremist regime ruling the country.

Tatami will compete as part of the Venice Film Festival’s Orizzonti, an international competition dedicated to films that represent the latest aesthetic and expressive trends. Co-directed by Israeli Academy Award® winner Guy Nattiv (Skin, Golda) and Iranian actress Zar Amir-Ebrahimi (Best Actress at Cannes for Holy Spider, Shayda), and co-written by Guy Nattiv and Elham Erfani (The Case of Sacrifice), Tatami is a political thriller follows an Iranian female judoka and her coach as they face life-changing decisions during the Judo World Championships. 

Tatami is produced for Keshet Studios by Adi Ezroni (Save Yourselves!) and Mandy Tagger Brockey (A Late Quartet) as part of the development fund run by Keshet International’s US-based studio and Dr Ori Alon's White Lodge Productions, in collaboration with New Native Pictures. WestEnd Films is distributing the film worldwide.

Writer/director Guy Nattiv says, "Creating together with Zar Amir Ebrahimi as the director and Elham Erfani as the screenwriter was a unique experience. I am excited that this is the first collaboration between Israeli and Iranian creators and that we have been accepted to the prestigious Venice Film Festival. This is a dream come true and a real opportunity to give a platform to the voices of Iranian women who fight daily against the oppressive regime in their country. 

Keshet Studios’ producer Mandy Tagger Brockey adds: "At Keshet Studios, we are drawn to fascinating and entertaining stories that bring meaning and deal with important issues - stories with the potential for positive change. We are honored to be involved in bringing the very talented and courageous Guy, Zar, and Elham together to make this ground-breaking feature happen, and to be working with WestEnd Films on the sales side.”

The powerful yet intimate feature stars Arienne Mandi (The L Word: Generation Q) and 2022 Cannes Best Actress winner and co-director Zar Amir-Ebrahimi in the lead roles, alongside Jaime Ray Newman (Dopesick, Little Fires Everywhere), Nadine Marshall (The Silent Twins, Small Axe), Mehdi Bajestani (Holy Spider), Lirr Katz and Ash Goldeh. 

Tatami is a thrilling portrait of Iranian female judoka Leila (Mandi) and her coach Maryam (Zar Amir-Ebrahimi), who travel to the Judo World Championship, intent on bringing home Iran’s first gold medal. Midway through the competition, they receive an ultimatum from the Islamic regime instructing Leila to fake an injury and lose, lest she be labeled a traitor to the state. Leila is faced with an impossible choice: obey the Iranian regime as her coach Maryam urges her to do, or fight for the gold and put herself and her family at risk.