Madani Short Film Competition 2

The Birds Beyond the Lake

Vaheed Rad | 2023 | Iran | 14:58 min | Persian, Sub: English | PG

Ahmad is looking for his younger brother, who runs away from home fearing circumcision. Ahmad sees his mother in a dream; she says, "If boys are not circumcised at the right time, they will turn into a roosters, and the only solution is in water". Ahmad tries to save the rooster. Vahid Rad is an Iranian actor and director who began his career in theatre in 2005. He transitioned to film with his role in Tamaroz/Simulation, which premiered at the Berlinale Festival in 2017. The following year, he appeared in As I Lay Dying. In 2021, he starred in Killing the Eunuch Khan, which won Best Film at the Slamdance Film Festival. The Birds Beyond The Lake is his debut short film as a director.