EXCLUSIVE: Paris-based documentary specialist CAT&Docs has acquired international sales rights for Iranian director Afsaneh Salari’s Tehran, Under The Skin and released a first trailer ahead of its world premiere in TIFF Docs.

The documentary gives insight into life in Iran through its growing obsession with cosmetic surgery at a time when the country is in the global spotlight due a brutal crackdown on pro-democracy protests followed by its conflict with the U.S. and Israel.

“After the Woman, Life, Freedom movement dominated headlines about Iran, Tehran, Under The Skin took us somewhere we hadn’t seen on screen: the private, unglamorous decisions people make about their own bodies when almost every other form of self-expression is restricted,” said Catherine LeClef, President CAT&Docs.

“Tehran, Under The Skin took us somewhere we hadn’t seen on screen: the private, unglamorous decisions people make about their own bodies when almost every other form of self-expression is restricted. Afsaneh Salari never tells us how to feel about that — she just lets us watch, closely and honestly.”

Produced by respected veteran doc producer Christian Popp of Tanjo Films along with YAMI 2 Productions, Salari’s work examines the obsessive fever over Tehran’s (legal) cosmetic surgery industry, painting a portrait of the city where women’s bodies reveal the invisible crossroads of politics, beauty, and personal agency.

“I’ve known CAT&Docs for years,” said Popp, “and I’m really impressed by their carefully curated catalogue which features many Iranian films. Their commitment and hard work on each of the films they represent is impressive. I’ve never worked with them before and I was delighted they agreed to join the journey of Tehran, Under The Skin”.

It is Salari’s second feature doc after the 2020 work The Silhouettes, about an Iran-raised Afghan refugee planning to return to Afghanistan in search of work. Talking about the premise for her new film, Salari explains it stemmed from her observations of her native country from afar.

“During the fifteen years I lived outside Iran,” Salari continued.  “I was struck by how Tehran kept reinventing itself, not through those in power, but through the people who inhabit it.”

“For this film, the plastic surgery epidemic became a window through which I observed Tehran and went under its skin, performing a kind of biopsy of its relationship to the female body. The film itself follows that gesture of incision, moving through bodies, memories and spaces in search of what lies beneath the visible.”

Salari was joined on the project by a handful of Iranian crew included cinematography Mohamad Hadadi (My Favourite Cake); sound designer Ensieh Leyla Maleki (Roya) as well as award-winning French editor Audrey Maurion (I Love You All) and colorist Nicolas Perret (Soumsoum, The Night of the Stars) and Swedish-Iranian composer Shida Shahabi (Else).

Salari also handled sound with Mohsen Zohrabi, while she was supported by director assistant Sepideh Jamshidi and production manager Rebecca Wirth.

Production partners joining Tanjo Films and YAMI 2 Productions include co-producer Docmaniacs in association with Sisyfos Films and with the participation of with the participation of France Télévisions, 3Cat and TVP, and support of CNC, Procirep – Societe des Producteurs and Angoa, funded by Creative Europe – Media.

“I’ve known CAT&Docs for years and I’m really impressed by their carefully curated catalogue which features many Iranian films,” said Popp.

Their commitment and hard work on each of the films they represent is impressive. I’ve never worked with them before and I was delighted they agreed to join the journey of Tehran, Under The Skin”.

Get our Breaking News Alerts and Keep your inbox happy.

Comments On Deadline Hollywood are monitored. So don't go off topic, don't impersonate anyone, and don't get your facts wrong.

Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() );