Free Drop in Screenings at Aberdeen Art Gallery!
14 and 15 March
Spaces are limited
Saturday 15 March - Seminar Room​
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13:00 -Screening of documentary The Staging Post - running time 65min
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14:00 - Screening of feature film Winners - running time 85min
Sunday 15 March - Seminar Room
13:00 -Screening of documentary The Staging Post - running time 65min
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14:00 - Screening of feature film Winners - running time 85min
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'A gentle Persian-language homage to cinema'
The Guardian
Film-maker Hassan Nazer on his love letter to Iranian cinema
Winners Synopsis:
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Written and directed by Hassan Nazer, the film is set in a poor Iranian village where the children work hard to support their families. One day nine-year-old Yahya and his friend Leyla find a precious statuette in the desert. As the authorities search for the lost treasure, sharing a passion for cinema Yahya’s boss Nasser Khan decides to help the children find its owner.
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About Hassan Nazer
Hassan is an internationally acclaimed British–Iranian film director and storyteller, known for his powerful, human-centered narratives that bridge cultures and resonate with global audiences. Born in Iran and based in the UK for over 25 years, he studied film in Aberdeen, developing a cinematic voice shaped by a deep understanding of Middle Eastern heritage and European life.
His breakout feature, Winners (2022), received widespread acclaim and won the BAFTA Scotland Award for Best Feature Film in 2023. The film was also selected as the UK’s official submission to the 95th Academy Awards for Best International Feature. Winners reflects Hassan’s signature approach: emotionally resonant storytelling with universal themes, often using non-professional actors to capture raw authenticity and grounded human experience.
In line with that artistic vision, Hassan recently completed the film Without Permission, which continues his commitment to working with real communities and lived experiences. The film is currently awaiting its international festival premiere.
Hassan also directed Utopia (2015), which was Afghanistan’s official submission to both the Academy Awards and Golden Globes. The film, which centers on a female protagonist, was widely celebrated at international festivals and further solidified Hassan’s reputation for exploring narratives of strength, resilience, and social justice.
Across his work, Hassan consistently explores themes of identity, migration, and the human impact of social and political upheaval. His films have screened at major international festivals and are widely recognized for their authenticity, poetic realism, and strong cross-cultural appeal.
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Upcoming Project: Farida – The Girl Who Beat ISIS
Hassan is currently preparing to direct Farida, The Girl Who Beat ISIS, a UK–Germany co-production scheduled to begin filming in late 2025. Based on the powerful true story of a Yazidi survivor, the film explores themes of survival, justice, and female empowerment, continuing Hassan’s dedication to telling bold, globally resonant stories with purpose and heart.
With a growing body of international work and a deep sensitivity to both Eastern and Western audiences, Hassan Nazer is a filmmaker with a bold voice, a clear vision, and a profound global reach.
The Staging Post
This feature documentary was the 14th most successful documentary at the Australian Box Office in 2017, and was awarded Highly Commended as ‘Best Stand-Alone Documentary’ by the Australian Director’s Guild in 2018.
Film Synopsis:
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When Muzafar Ali encouraged his friend, 17 year-old refugee Khadim Dai, to start filming his life on his mobile phone, they sparked a refugee-led education revolution. The Staging Post is a real-life, real-time story of courage, connection, and the power of the community.
Courageous People Never Give Up.
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About Muzafar Ali
Muzafar Ali is a former refugee from Afghanistan, currently living in Adelaide, Australia, where he is a student at the University of South Australia.
He worked for the United Nations in Afghanistan, supporting the disbandment of illegal armed groups and promoting human rights He became a well-known photographer with photos he took while working in remote and rarely visited areas of Afghanistan.
Later he was forced to leave and made his way to Indonesia, where he co-founded the first refugee-managed school in Indonesia, the Cisarua Refugee Learning Centre.
Muzafar is passionate refugee advocate and regularly speaks for and to refugees in Australia and internationally. His life as a refugee in Indonesia is featured in the recently released documentary, The Staging Post.
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About Jolyon Hoff - Director/Producer of The Staging Post
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Jolyon is an Australian Documentary Filmmaker. He was living in Jakarta when Australia ‘stopped the boats’. He had never met a refugee, so he went to the staging post for boats travelling to Christmas Island. He wanted to know to who they were, where they came from, and what they were going to do now? Almost immediately he met, Muzafar and Khadim.
Jolyon established Cisarua Learning, an Australian registered charity, to support the refugee-led education that his friends started. There are now ten refugee-led schools in Indonesia and over 1500 students receiving education from approximately 100 refugee teachers. Jolyon, Khadim and Muzafar manage the charity together.
Leila's Violin
This feature documentary was the 14th most successful documentary at the Australian Box Office in 2017, and was awarded Highly Commended as ‘Best Stand-Alone Documentary’ by the Australian Director’s Guild in 2018.
Film Synopsis:
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Leila’s Violin tells the story of thirteen-year-old Leila, who, after the loss of her mother, travels from California to her mother’s birthplace – an ancient settlement of Mountain Jews in the Quba Mountains of Azerbaijan. There, she meets spiritual messengers and finds a ghostly red violin. This film was an official selection in the 18th Annual Angel Film Awards at the 2021 Monaco International Film Festival.
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Leila's Violin features performances by Azerbaijani violinist Sabina Rakcheyeva. Nowruz Aberdeen will also be hosting a special free concert featuring Sabina Rakcheyeva and Gunel Mirzayeva at Trinity Hall on Sunday 15th March. This is a free concert but booking is essential.
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