Finally, after two years, "Facing Mirrors" is going to have the opportunity of release in Iran, from 24th, Oct, 2012.

Facing Mirrors is the first Iranian film ever with a transgender protagonist, but even apart from that worthy achievement, it is a fine film in its own right, with skillfully drawn characters and an engaging story. Unquestionably a Must-See film for all audiences.

Rana picks up Adineh, a young woman from a wealthy family fleeing an arranged marriage and trying to flee the country for a transgender operation. At first it’s a clash of class and belief systems.



Rana is initially suspicious and terrified of Adineh and her bold ways; but Adineh is used to being an outsider, and her support for Rana is the basis of an unlikely alliance.

This award-winning first Iranian fictional feature about transgender unites a unique female filmmaking team: veteran writer/producer Fereshteh Taerpoor, debut writer/director Negar Azarbayjani and actress Shayesteh Irani – best known to Australian audiences for her role in Offside – as Adineh.



Rana has chosen a path in order to support her family, while Adineh (Eddie) has fled his home and city to escape his complicated situation as a transsexual man prevented from living as his true self by his family.

They find themselves on the same journey and caused to know each other in a better way.

Shayesteh Irani, who was in the banned 2006 film Offside as a female fan of men’s soccer, brings Eddie and Adineh both to life, interweaving the two aspects of the character with sure-footed grace.

Qazal Shakeri came to the project as a costume designer, but found her true calling playing Rana, a woman who is rooted in conservative religious values but who has a core of inner strength and conviction equal to a bra-burning feminist.



Above all, Eddie and Rana never lose sight of their humanity. Facing Mirrors is the first Iranian film ever with a transgender protagonist, but even apart from that worthy achievement, it is a fine film in its own right, with skillfully drawn characters and an engaging story. Unquestionably a Must-See film for all audiences.

Cast: Homayoun Ershadi, Shayesteh Irani, Nima Shahrokh Shahi, Qazal Shakeri. Saber Abar, Hengameh Ghaziani, Touraj Mansouri



"Facing Mirrors" has won the"Grand Prize" of "Cheries cheris Film Festival" in Paris.

Another award for Facing Mirrors Norway, Oslo film festival:

The Feature Film Award we give to FACING MIRRORS, by Negar Azarbayjani, for it's moving portrayal of the struggle of a trans person in Iran.

First, one can imagine that making a film like this is not easy in Iran, and second, the story itself takes some very surprising turns, and raises some of the important social issues in Iranian culture today.

Mixing the style of a traditional road movie with some very inventive filmmaking, Facing Mirrors weaves together the episodes of two women with different social and cultural backgrounds.

Azarbaijani's first feature-length movie won the Best Narrative Feature of the 2012 Translations Audience Award at the Seattle Transgender Film Festival.



Azarbaijani's film was awarded at the 8th edition of Syracuse International Film Festival held in October, 2011 in the United States.

The film was also well received by both Iranian and Canadian audiences at the 2011 edition of Montreal's World Film Festival that led to the authorities' decision to schedule an extra screening at the event held in August.

Facing Mirrors also won great acclaim at the 2011 National Geographic All Roads Film Project in Washington D.C. held in September.