Sara Nodjoumi

Lila, a woman in her late twenties, visits home for the Persian New Year. She faces intense cultural pressures from her elders to conform to traditional beauty standards. As the festivities approach, Lila must decide whether to comply with her elders' expectations or forge her own path.

In this hybrid political thriller and verité portrait documentary, Sara Nodjoumi, working with co-director and husband, Till Schauder, makes her directorial debut with this personal film, diving into the mystery surrounding the disappearance of more than 100 “treasonous” paintings by her father, seminal Iranian modern artist Nickzad Nodjoumi.

This eye-opening documentary follows American basketball player Kevin Sheppard during his 2008-09 season playing for a professional team in Iran. Although Kevin is nervous, he makes many friends, including several politically active Iranian women.

Iranian musician Shahin Najafi flees his homeland and heads to Cologne, Germany after harsh criticism by several clerics over the release of his song speaking out against human rights abuses resulted in a fatwa being issued.

Plagued with poverty and violence, Jamaica tries to inspire its populace by qualifying their national team, the 'Reggae Boyz', for the World Cup. When their efforts start to fall short, Winnie Schäfer, a colorful German coach, teams up with reggae musicians to unite Jamaica beyond the soccer pitch.

The art of the Qajar Era in Iran, from 1785 to 1925, includes some of the most remarkable paintings of any culture. "Of Kings and Paintings" brings to life the wealth and importance of this extraordinary period in Persia's art history.