Shahram Mokri’s new feature Black Rabbit, White Rabbit will have its world premiere in the Vision section of the 30th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), running September 17–26, 2025, in South Korea. Recognized as Asia’s leading film festival, BIFF highlights bold and innovative works from across the continent.
Written by Mokri and Nasim Ahmadpour, and produced by Negar Eskandarfar, the film is a co-production between Tajikistan and the United Arab Emirates. Shot in Tajikistan with a cast from Iran and Tajikistan, it is presented in Persian, Tajik, and Russian. The story follows a woman who, after a car accident, discovers that her surroundings are shifting in strange and unsettling ways, blurring the boundaries between reality and illusion.
After Busan, the film will compete in the main competition of the 61st Chicago International Film Festival (October 15–26, 2025), screening alongside 13 international titles. It has also been selected for the official competition of the 61st BFI London Film Festival, one of Europe’s most prestigious cinema events, where it will compete with nine other films from around the world.
The film stars Babak Karimi, Hasti Mahmayi, Kubriya Dilubova, and Bijan Davlyatov, with a large ensemble cast. Key crew includes Amir Esbati (art director and costume designer), Morteza Qeydi (cinematographer), Peyman Yazdanian (composer), and Parviz Abnar (sound designer). International sales are handled by DreamLab Films (France), headed by Nasrin Mirshab.
Mokri, celebrated for his inventive approach to narrative and form, has previously screened at Venice, Berlin, and Chicago. His earlier films, Fish and Cat (2013), Invasion (2018), and Careless Crime (2020), all earned international acclaim, establishing him as one of Iran’s most original contemporary filmmakers.