New York, NY -- SONITA directed by Rokhsareh Ghaem Maghami, will make its North American Premiere in the World Cinema Documentary Competition at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival, January 21-31. Sundance is widely known as one of the world's premiere festivals. SONITA heads to Sundance after its international premiere, winning both the Audience Award and DOC U Award at the International Documentary Film Festival, Amsterdam (IDFA). SONITA led the poll of audience favorites right from the start of the festival.
SONITA tells the story of 18-year-old Sonita Alizadeh, an undocumented Afghan immigrant who lives in Iran and dreams of a career as a rapper. Her family has a very different future planned for her: as a bride she's worth $9,000. What's more, women aren't allowed to sing in Iran. How can Sonita still succeed in making her dreams come true? SONITA was made with the help of WMM's internationally recognized Production Assistance Program, and was produced by Tag/Traum Filmproduktion.
Previous award winning films by Iranian director Maghami include GOING UP THE STAIRS, which is also distributed by Women Make Movies, and the animated short CYANOSIS. For more information about SONITA visit www.wmm.com/sonita
Women Make Movies is the world's leading distributor of films by and about women. WMM's 2015 release, DREAMCATCHER, by Kim Longinotto, won Best Director, World Documentary Competition, at the Sundance Film Festival in 2015. WMM's Production Assistance Program assists women directors with their productions from concept through completion. Three other films from WMM will be premiering at Sundance in Documentary and Dramatic Competition: TRAPPED by Dawn Porter, WEINER by Josh Kriegman and Elyse Steinberg and THE FITS by Anna Rose Holmer.
Media Contact:
Emily Sternlicht, Marketing & Outreach Coordinator
Women Make Movies
esternlicht@wmm.com
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About WMM:
Since our beginnings in 1972, WMM has grown from a feminist filmmakers' collective into an industry-leading nonprofit media arts organization and distributor. For over 40 years, WMM has transformed the landscape of filmmaking for women directors and producers, bringing the issues facing women around the world to screens everywhere. Now, with more than 550 films in our catalog, including Academy®, Emmy®, Peabody and Sundance nominees and award winners, WMM is the largest distributor of films by and about women in the world. Women Make Movies. By Women. About Women. For Everyone.
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Women Make Movies gratefully acknowledges the support of our funders: The National Endowment for the Arts, the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. The Andy Warhol Foundation, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, and the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.
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