Check out this Iranian Film Documantary

The Iranian government’s influence over the film industry is unlike any other. In 1978, cinemas were burned to the ground after images of American decadence were shown on screen. The medium itself was outlawed until the Ayatollah Khamenei saw a film he liked, the cinemas were reopened, and the industry grew again.

Today, this revitalised passion for film has Iran making a major impact on the world. The country’s cultural, national, and individual diversity is on view, in celluloid. In this episode, watch Shane Smith travel to Iran for the 3rd Annual Urban Film Festival in Tehran. We take you to film sets and sound stages where we meet Iran’s top directors, actors, and clerics.