Sepideh Yadegar

Nyousha Nakhjiri battles anxiety and ADHD while training to become the first Iranian-born female boxer to compete in the Olympics.

In Iran, higher education is a crime—for Bahá’ís. The Forbidden University exposes a secret underground network where students and teachers risk prison, raids and exile, for the right to learn. Told through daring first-person accounts and striking animated reenactments, this is the hidden story of a secret beacon of hope born in the shadows.

This visual and musical feast sets the table for rich conversations about identity, belonging, creative expression, cultural appreciation + appropriation, and the complex terrain between intent, impact, and personal responsibility. Through Kim Villagante's (aka Kimmortal) journey into the heart of who they are, and 'what they love' is doubtlessly unique, this story will deeply resonate with many 2nd generation immigrant youth. This short's candid portrayal of the push/pull between adolescent pressures to conform, and 'stand out' also offers widely relatable gems of wisdom that can help us all along the way.