Highness and Excellency

Director Sajad IMANI  | Producer Milad KHOSRAVI, Thibaut AMRI, Evie BRANKA  | Iran, France | Film 80 min, TV 52 min | 2K | Color

Project Description

Budget

Logline

In a strict Iranian town, an infertile couple, Rahim and Halima, break societal norms to have a child and build the family they deeply desire for 20 years.

Synopsis

The film spans over a decade, documenting the couple's journey as they try every possible method to conceive a child and fund their fertility treatments. From Rahim joining underground boxing matches, getting paid for admitting to crimes he didn’t commit, collecting and selling garbage, to exploring old fertility rituals. After many failed attempts, they eventually turn to surrogacy, a practice that is forbidden in their society.

Traditionally, male figures in conservative communities would never allow for their spouses to be filmed. But Rahim and Halima break away from this stereotype. They asked the director to document their journey not only to explain to their future child about its surrogate mother but also to bring attention to the societal pressures and traditional beliefs they faced.

Director's Statement

I had the privilege of meeting Rahim and Halima in 2016. From the start, I knew that building trust was crucial, so I invested time in listening to their stories and fostering open communication. Throughout the years, I continued to explore the themes, objectives, and impact of the project, ensuring that we shared a common understanding and vision. I became a part of their family.

Initially, my focus was on Rahim, a former boxing champion, and his fall from glory. However, my perspective shifted to Halima. Rahim and Halima invited me to document their journey. Their ultimate wish is for the film to serve as a love letter to their unborn child, capturing the depth of their emotions and the complexity of their experiences.

	Sajad Imani is an award-winning Iranian writer, director, and editor who has made several outstanding documentary and short fiction films. His works as editor and director have been recognized in numerous national and international festivals, including Intl. Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam, Venice Intl. Film Festival, DMZ Intl. Documentary Film Festival, and Big SKY.		Milad Khosravi is an independent producer from Iran, deeply committed to social issues such as children's rights and family matters. Milad produced Mrs. Iran’s Husband (Best Short Documentary winner of Hot Docs), Terrestrial Verses  and Requiem for a Tribe.
Director  Sajad IMANI		Producer  Milad KHOSRAVI
	Thibaut’s academic path began with a Master’s degree in law followed by a Master degree in Cinema in Montpellier University and completed by a training at the Ludwigsburg-Paris workshop of La Fémis cinema school. He worked for a year as a distribution assistant for New Story, a French distribution company based in Paris. In 2018, he moved to Cambodia to direct and produce Khmerica, a documentary supported by the CNC, the Occitanie Region, Montpellier Métropole and the Doha Film Institute. In 2021, he co-founded the production company Avant la Nuit.		Evie Branka is an award-winning Producer based in London, with award-winning record in film, TV, and advertising. Holding an MA in Film and TV from Lodz Film School, she has worked as a development producer for ITV UK. Since 2023, Evie has been working closely with Iranian Independent company Seven Springs Pictures. She has collaborated with acclaimed producers Rémi Grellety and Milad Khosravi. Evie's projects have secured coveted slots at top international markets and forums.
Producer Thibaut AMRI		Producer Evie BRANKA