Keswick Film Festival

Synopsis

After bringing us the joy of Winners to KFF in 2023, Hassan Nazer's latest film is a deeply personal exploration of attitudes in his country of birth.

An exiled Iranian filmmaker (as is Hassan himself) returns home after being denied permission to make his scripted film. Determined to capture the voices of a new generation and their unfiltered thoughts on love, identity and freedom he turns to children, secretly filming in hidden locations. As he navigates societal and political barriers, his journey becomes a powerful exploration of self-expression in a controlled world.

"Director Hassan Nazer reaffirms through Without Permission, the vital role of cinema as a language of resistance and liberation. The questions he raises continue to echo long after the film ends, leaving a lasting resonance in the hearts of its viewers." Busan IFF Programme note