Critical Zone (2023)

Critical Zone (Persian: منطقه بحرانی, romanized: Mantagheye bohrani, German: Kritische Zone) is a 2023 drama film written and directed by Ali Ahmadzadeh. It is an Iranian and German co-production, and was shot in secret without permission from Iranian authorities. Using a cast of non-professional actors, the film follows a drug dealer navigating Tehran's underworld over the course of a night. The film won the Golden Leopard at the 76th Locarno Film Festival. Ahmadzadeh was pressured by Iranian authorities to not screen his film at the festival, and was unable to attend the premiere after being prohibited from leaving Iran.