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Iranian drama ‘They Loved Me’ to compete at Portugal Avanca festival
Iranian director Mohammadreza Rahmani’s feature ‘They Loved Me’ was officially selected for competition at the 29th Avanca International Film Festival, to be held from July 23 to 27 in the northern Portuguese town of Avanca.
This is the film’s international debut. The Avanca festival, launched in 1997, is one of Portugal’s most prominent showcases for independent cinema and media arts. In addition to screenings, it hosts technical workshops and masterclasses led by veteran filmmakers and educators from around the world, IRNA reported.
‘They Loved Me’ stars Amirhossein Arman, Amir Jafari, Mahsa Esmaeili, Nasim Adabi, Shahram Qaedi, Hadi Taslimi, Seyed Ali Salehi, Iraj Rahmani, and Leila Boloukat. The drama, which had faced a period of suspension by Iranian authorities, finally opened in domestic cinemas in autumn 2024.
International distribution is handled by Elaheh Goodarzi of Minerva Film Institute.
Rahmani’s film joins a competitive lineup at Avanca that frequently features bold storytelling from emerging voices. Festival organizers said this year’s selection “bridges borders and genres,” with a strong focus on films rooted in social realities.