There is nothing as powerful as mother’s love, and nothing as healing as a child’s soul.

According to the NHS annual report, there has been a 68% increase in self-harming amongst teenagers aged between 13 and 16. Alarmingly, this increase applies only to girls, suggesting that there are unique challenges that girls of this age group face that are currently under-appreciated. We’ve tried to address this via highlighting triggers by depicting Dorreh in her most exposed environment of school and at the confines of her home, where the lack of healthy communication is stifling. 

Written & Directed by Sogol Afshar 

As a painter, I would juxtapose figures onto landscapes from different films to tell my own story through composition and colour.  I soon realised I wanted to tell those stories though moving images. Having finished a bachelor’s degree in Film and Television at the University of the Arts London, I will soon graduate with a Master’s degree from MetFilm School in Directing. So far I've made two short fiction films, a documentary which was produced in collaboration with the award-winning production company, 3 Angry Men. And a commercial for the Fawcett Society which was nominated for a 2017 Adcan award. I’m also very proud to be part of Bold Content Video directors’ team. 

Dorreh is an autobiographical film that’s very close to my own experience as a teenage Persian girl when I first moved to England. Years later, after being exposed to the issue of self-mutilation amongst teenagers in the media, I decided to merge the two worlds in order to tell a very personal mother-daughter love story. 

Producer by Barbara Nanna 

Barbara Nanna started off in production as a 2nd Assistant director, moving up to 1st AD and then moving across to production itself. She has worked for the last few years as a production manager for various production companies in London, specialising in commercials, music videos and branded content. She has produced three short films; two of which, Sketch and Snail, have one best short film in film festivals in London. She is currently working on the 4th season of a TV series and support Sketch on it's international festival circuit. 

Cinematography by Vianney Kernanet Huggins

Since childhood Vianney has been fascinated by the use of light to influence mood and create atmosphere. His goal on this project is to help shape this jarring story of adolescence through this medium of light. His experience with photography provides him with an alternative perspective on form, colour and texture which he will bring to use in the visual portrayal of a familiar struggle.

Moodboard

Your contribution will help us in creating an immersive world that’s compelling and relatable enough to tell the story with the respect and integrity it deserves. 

We truly appreciate your support.