Elahe Esmaili

Elahe Esmaili
Elahe Esmaili at the 2024 Telluride Film Festival
Born
Mashhad, Iran
OccupationsWriter, Director, Filmmaker
Notable workDoll (2021), Can I Hug You? (2023), A Move (2024)
AwardsBest International Short, Hot Docs (2021), Best Youth Jury Short, Visions de Reel (2024)
Websitehttps://www.elaheesmaili.com/

Elahe Esmaili (Persian: الهه اسماعیلی; born 1990) is an Iranian filmmaker known for her films exploring women's rights and family in Iranian society. Her work has screened at major festivals including Telluride, Visions du Reel, IDFA, BFI London Film Festival, Hot Docs, and Sheffield Doc/Fest.

Early Life and Education

Esmaili was born in 1990 in Mashhad, Iran. She attended Armine Mosalanejad High School. She began her academic career in engineering before shifting toward filmmaking. She ranked first in Iran's national university exam (Konkour) and went on to study at Tehran University of Art, earning her BA in film. She later completed an MA in Directing at National Film and Television School (NFTS) in the United Kingdom.[1][2][3]

Career

Esmaili's debut short documentary, The Doll (2021), was her BA graduation film. It won the Best International Short award at Hot Docs 2021 and received nominations or selections from the International Documentary Association (IDA) and the Critics Choice Awards, screening at more than 50 festivals in total.[4][5][6][7][8]

Her second film, Can I Hug You? (2023), is a personal documentary centered on a man who grew up in the religious city of Qom and experienced childhood sexual assault. The film follows his process of confronting that trauma. It premiered in the International Short Competition at Sheffield Doc/Fest in June 2023 and went on to win the Best Short Documentary award at the SIMA Awards, the One World Media award for best short documentary, and the NHK Grand Prix of the Japan Prize. [9][10][11][12]

Her third film, A Move (2024), follows Esmaili's return to her hometown of Mashhad to help her parents relocate after 40 years, set against the backdrop of Iran's Woman, Life, Freedom movement. The film won the Best Youth Jury Short award at Visions du Reel, along with the Grand Prix and Audience Award at Uppsala International Short Film Festival. It has also screened at Telluride, BFI London Film Festival, Clermont-Ferrand, IDFA, DOK Leipzig, Sheffield Doc/Fest, DOC NYC, and DMZ Docs.[13][14][15][16][17]

Esmaili's work is frequently noted for its focus on children's and women's rights, as well as stories of women overcoming societal barriers.[18]

Filmography

Year Title Role
2021 The Doll Director, Producer, and Writer
2023 Can I Hug You? Director, Co-Producer, and Writer
2024 A Move Director, Co-Producer, and Writer

Awards and Honors (Selected)

  • Best International Short, Hot Docs (2021) – The Doll
  • Best Short Documentary, SIMA Awards – Can I Hug You?
  • IDA Award for Continuing Excellence (ACI) – Can I Hug You?
  • One World Media Award, Best Short Documentary – Can I Hug You?
  • NHK Grand Prix, Japan Prize – Can I Hug You?
  • BIFA best short film nominee (2024) – A Move
  • Best Youth Jury Short, Visions de Reel (2024) – A Move
  • Grand prix and Audience Award, Uppsala International Short Film Festival – A Move
  • Best short documentary at Huesca International Film Festival – A Move
  • IDA best short film nominee – A Move
  • Cinema eye honors best short film nominee – A Move

References

  1. ↑ "Elahe Esmaili". Pulitzer Center. Retrieved 2026-08-20.
  2. ↑ "Elahe Esmaili | الهه اسماعیلی". Elahe Esmaili | الهه اسماعیلی. Retrieved 2026-08-20.
  3. ↑ "IDA Member Spotlight: Elahe Esmaili | International Documentary Association". www.documentary.org. 2024-05-14. Retrieved 2026-08-20.
  4. ↑ Bacon, Redmond (2021-05-05). "The Doll by Elahe Esmaili // Documentary // Directors Notes". Directors Notes. Retrieved 2026-08-20.
  5. ↑ Tadeo, Jericho (2021-11-08). "A Conversation with 'The Doll' Filmmaker Elahe Esmaili". The Nerd Daily. Retrieved 2026-08-21.
  6. ↑ "I Couldn't Be Indifferent: Elahe Esmaili On Her Short "The Doll"". Viddy Well. Retrieved 2026-08-21.
  7. ↑ "The Doll - Film Review". Eye For Film. Retrieved 2026-08-21.
  8. ↑ Richter, Marina D. (2021-05-17). "Review of Elahe Esmaili's short documentary 'The Doll'". ubiquarian. Retrieved 2026-08-21.
  9. ↑ Manager, Ayesha Aleem Communications. "Can I Hug You? – A film by GSDF alumni Elahe Esmaili". One World Media. Retrieved 2026-08-20.
  10. ↑ Richter, Marina D. (2023-11-05). "Film review: Can I Hug You? (2023)". ubiquarian. Retrieved 2026-08-21.
  11. ↑ "Can I Hug You? Film Review".
  12. ↑ "SurvivorsUK | How a husband and wife team made a film about speaking to your family about being a survivor". SurvivorsUK. 2023-11-29. Retrieved 2026-08-21.
  13. ↑ "A Move – Films". Visions du Réel. Retrieved 2026-08-20.
  14. ↑ "جشنواره فیلم مستند شفیلد؛ گوگوش، دختر بی‌حجاب و خواننده موسیقی محلی کردستان". BBC News فارسی (in Persian). 2024-06-18. Retrieved 2026-08-21.
  15. ↑ "Visions du Réel 2024: 'Kamay,' 'A Move,' 'We Are Inside,' and 'Diaries From Lebanon' | International Documentary Association". www.documentary.org. 2024-05-20. Retrieved 2026-08-21.
  16. ↑ Baker, Neil (2024-06-18). "A Move (short film) Sheffield DocFest Review - an honest and enlightening discussion on protest and social change". Cinerama Film. Retrieved 2026-08-21.
  17. ↑ Network, The Learning (2025-04-03). "Watch: 'A Move'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-08-23.
  18. ↑ "Deconstructing Stereotypes in Film through Women's Voices". College of Liberal Arts. 2025-04-24. Retrieved 2026-08-20.
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