Doc Edge Festival hosting Iranian ‘Woodgirls’

Iranian documentary ‘Woodgirls - A Duet for a Dream’ has been competing at the Doc Edge Festival in New Zealand.

Directed by Azadeh Bizargiti, the documentary is about the lives of Leila Avakh and Sediqeh Momennia who have chosen carpentry as a profession, which is considered extremely masculine in the traditional societies of West Asia.

The duo faces many difficulties and obstacles; however, they are determined to prove that it is possible to achieve your dreams.

Leila and Sediqeh who follow their dreams of opening a carpentry workshop run by women are among the first female carpenters in Iran.

‘Woodgirls – A Duet for a Dream’ went on screen at some global events such as the Cinema d’iDEA in Italy, the Prague International Film Festival – Febiofest in the Czech Republic, and the Calcutta International Cult Film Festival in India, where it won the monthly award of “Film on Women”.

As an Oscar-qualifying international documentary festival, the Doc Edge Festival opened its online edition on June 1 and will run until July 10.

A lineup of 113 films, including 74 features and 39 shorts, is competing in the festival.

The in-person editions of the event took place on June 15-26 in Auckland and Christchurch. The festival is still running in Wellington and wraps up on July 10.

MG/AG