WestEnd Films acquires Iranian political thriller 'Untitled Judo'

'Untitled Judo' is the first feature film to be co-directed by an Iranian and an Israeli filmmaker.

London-based film company WestEnd Films has acquired worldwide rights to Keshet Studios’ political thriller Untitled Judo and will introduce it to buyers at Berlin’s European Film Market (EFM).

Untitled Judo, currently in post-production, is co-directed by Guy Nattiv and Zar Amir Ebrahimi, and co-written by Elham Erfani.

It is the first feature film to be co-directed by an Iranian and an Israeli filmmaker

The film is produced by Adi Ezroni and Keshet Studios’ Mandy Tagger Brockey alongside Nattiv and Jaime Ray Newman from New Native Pictures. Keshet Studios produces in association with White Lodge Productions, New Native Pictures, Maven Pictures, WestEnd Films, Tale Runners and Sarke Studios.

It features Arienne Mandi and Amir Ebrahimi in the lead roles, alongside Jaime Ray Newman, Nadine Marshall and Mehdi Bajestani.

Untitled Judo is a thrilling portrait of Iranian female judoka Leila (Mandi) and her coach Maryam (Ebrahimi), who travel to the Judo World Championship, intent on bringing home Iran’s first gold medal. Midway through the competition, they receive an ultimatum from the Islamic Republic ordering Leila to fake an injury and lose. With her own and her family’s freedom at stake, Leila is faced with an impossible choice: feign injury and comply with the Iranian regime as Maryam implores her to do, or defy them both and fight on, for the gold.

Nattiv said: “It is a tremendous honour to be collaborating with these true creative forces of nature – Zar, Arienne, and Elham, bringing this important story to life. Untitled Judo is more than a movie to all of us. It’s a creative statement to the world as thousands of innocent Iranian people are paying with their lives for freedom.”

Ebrahimi added: “The story we’re telling in this film is the story of too many Iranian athletes who lost their lifetime opportunities, sometimes forced to leave their countries and beloved ones because of the conflict between systems and governments. May this artistic and cinematographic collaboration with Guy be a tribute to them, beyond frenzies of blind hatred and mutual destruction.”

Erfani added: “It is an honour for me to write this movie with Guy Nattiv and I am grateful to have the opportunity to be a voice for the oppressed Iranian athletes, and to bring their stories to the world through this film.”