Visit Films has acquired worldwide sales rights to Iranian director Negin Ahmadi’s documentary “Dreams Gate,” which depicts an all-female Kurdish militia ahead of its world premiere at the Berlin Film Festival.
To make “Dreams Gate,” which will be launched at Berlin’s Generation Section for a young audience, Ahmadi traveled to the war zone of northern Syria where she gained access to the lives of women in the YPJ, the armed forces. Within is an all-female Kurdish militia. A wing of the Democratic Union Party (PYD) based in Syria.
“Dreamsgate” is directed by Ahmadi and produced by Iran’s Elah Nobakht, whose credits include “The Apple Day,” “Bellowd” and “Silent House.” The doc is a co-production between Iran, France, and Norway through production companies Allie Image, Ava Studios Paris, Spat Film AS, and Babel Doc.
This observational documentary captures the struggles, hopes and joys of these courageous women fighters “for whom the fight against ISIS is also their way of escaping the constraints of a patriarchal society”.
In a statement, the director said, “During the journey of making this film, I was searching for my lost identity, strength and the meaning of femininity.”
“I had heard that Kurdish women fighters are a symbol of strength and freedom in their society. Now, four years on, I can say with confidence that the truth is much more complex. I am very happy that Visit Films By working together, we can share these women’s stories and their dreams with audiences around the world,” added Ahmadi.
Ryan Kempe, president of VISIT, said: “This is one of the most real and raw accounts of women in war ever made. Ahmadi shines a light on this incredible group of women and their sacrifices. putting themselves directly in harm’s way in a region where women often hide in the shadows.
New York-based film sales firm Visit Films recently sold Oscar-nominated “Ascension” to MTV Docs and Paramount worldwide, “Down with the King” to Sony Pictures worldwide, and “The Storms of Jeremy Thomas” sold to Cohen Media Group.
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