Javad Daraei

Javad Daraei, an award-winning underground filmmaker is a poignant storyteller who captures the stark realities of life in Iran. His films give voice to marginalized groups, including LGBTQ and queer individuals, people with disabilities, and women, portraying their struggles with a Kafkaesque intensity. The cinematic style of Daraei, particularly in his critically acclaimed work Metamorphosis in the Slaughterhouse, is marked by minimalistic movements and arid shots that focus on solitary figures, evoking a wealth of emotions. His commitment to filmmaking extends beyond the screen; he believes in mastering every aspect of the craft while maintaining low production costs. Despite the significant challenges he faces, such as arrests and torture by Iranian authorities, and the censorship of his work, Daraei's dedication remains steadfast. He often films in abandoned villages, adapting to ever-changing circumstances with resilience. His cinematography, characterized by restrained shots punctuated with subtle explosions of color and erratic camera movements, creates a powerful atmosphere of powerlessness and control. This not only reflects in his films but also mirrors the Kafkaesque themes of his own life, where each arrest and act of torture becomes a source of profound inspiration for his art.{{Cite web |title=Metamorphosis in the Slaughterhouse (Javad Daraei, Iran, 2021) |date=24 May 2023 |url=https://www.filmmattersmagazine.com/2023/05/24/building-a-scottish-platform-for-international-filmmakers-a-review-of-the-st-andrews-film-festival-2021-by-ash-johann/}}{{Cite web |title=Javad Daraei |url=https://www.iash.ed.ac.uk/profile/javad-daraei}}

Javad Daraei was born in 1992 in Khorramabad, a conservative, religious city nestled in the mountainous Lorestan province of western Iran. Raised primarily by his grandmother, Daraei credits her as a profound emotional anchor during his formative years, shaping his resilience and artistic sensitivity.

Driven by a passion for cinema, he moved to Tehran to study film, where he immersed himself in underground art communities. There, he encountered marginalized groups, including LGBTQ+ individuals, whose stories of fear and persecution deeply influenced his work.

Facing severe repression for his bold storytelling, Daraei endured imprisonment and brutal torture by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Despite these harrowing experiences, he continued to create, fueled by the belief that art could bear witness to injustice.

After fleeing Iran Daraei found refuge in Scotland. He was supported by the University of Edinburgh’s Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities (IASH), which provided crucial mentorship and resources to help him rebuild his artistic voice. He also enhanced his craft by completing a documentary directing course at the National Film and Television School (NFTS) in the UK.{{Cite web |title=Artist spotlight Javad Daraei |url=https://www.refugeefestivalscotland.co.uk/2025/06/artist-spotlight-javad-daraei/}}{{Cite news |title=Director fled to Edinburgh after risking his life 'shooting films in secret |url=https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinburgh-news/director-fled-edinburgh-after-risking-31888531}}

During and after the production of Metamorphosis in the Slaughterhouse, Daraei was abducted by plainclothes agents of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). In 2017, while walking down the street, he was ambushed, forced into an unmarked car, and taken to an undisclosed detention centre.

He was confined in a tiny, windowless cell, lit continuously by a halogen lamp and filled with the incessant hum of a ceiling fan—a sensory environment he later described as a method of psychological torture. While in custody, Daraei was falsely accused of being an American spy.

Over the course of 17 days, he endured severe physical and psychological abuse. He was beaten repeatedly, burned with a lighter, and suffered a broken leg that was never treated. “Every day they got more and more brutal,” he later recalled. “I refused to eat. It was mental and physical torture. I no longer felt human.{{Cite web |title=Director fled to Edinburgh after risking his life 'shooting films in secret' |url=https://uk.news.yahoo.com/director-fled-edinburgh-risking-life-092518817.html}}{{Cite news |title=Iranian film director tells of Tehran prison torture after fleeing to Scotland |url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/iranian-film-director-tells-tehran-35415553}}

== Exile, Trauma, and Recovery ==

Daraei was eventually released into a state-run hospital. He later left Iran and was granted refugee status and the right to remain in the UK.

He suffers from ongoing trauma as a result of his imprisonment and torture. He experiences flashbacks and avoids warm weather, which reminds him of the summer heat in detention. Therapy, community support in Scotland, and his creative work have helped him begin to heal. He keeps a photo of the Scottish Highlands on his bedroom wall as a daily reminder of his safety.

“Before, I used to write to live. Now, I write just to survive. Which means that as long as I’m writing, I’m still alive." {{Cite news |title=Director fled to Edinburgh after risking his life 'shooting films in secret |url=https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinburgh-news/director-fled-edinburgh-after-risking-31888531}}{{Cite web |title=Artist spotlight Javad Daraei |url=https://www.refugeefestivalscotland.co.uk/2025/06/artist-spotlight-javad-daraei/}}

• Metamorphosis in the Slaughterhouse (2021)

• I don't like here[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6066552/?ref_=m_nm_knf_i1 I don't like her] (2016)
• Limit[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6968108/?ref_=m_nm_knf_i3 Limit] (2017)

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• {{IMDb name|id=nm8442292|name=Javad Daraei}}
• {{Official website|http://javaddaraei.com/}}

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Category:1992 births

Category:Living people

Category:Iranian filmmakers