From Iran to the world: Mahdi Borjian’s ‘Tadji’ wins big and takes its story to global film festivals

The 19-minute Persian-language short, executive produced by Isabella Sreyashii Sen and Olivier A. Dock of Singapore-based Hazelnut Media Pte. Ltd., has also been officially selected for the Oscar- and BAFTA-qualifying HollyShorts Film Festival 2026 in Los Angeles.

The film’s growing international presence comes amid a collaboration between its Iranian team and Hazelnut Media, which has continued supporting the project through challenging circumstances and the recent conflict across borders.

Set inside a bustling Iranian factory, TADJI follows a woman navigating the pressures of work, marriage and personal choice. An unexpected disruption at the workplace brings hidden tensions to the surface, prompting questions around trust, responsibility, resilience and individual choice.

The film explores themes rooted in Iranian society while addressing experiences that transcend geographical and cultural boundaries, including family, work, relationships and personal choices.

"For TADJI, India is not simply another destination on the festival calendar. The film comes from a distinctly Iranian world, but its questions around family, work, relationships and personal choice can travel far beyond borders. BISFF gives this story an important opportunity to connect with Indian audiences,” said Isabella Sreyashii Sen and Olivier A. Dock, Co-Chief Executive Officers of Hazelnut Media.

For Borjian, the film’s international journey reflects the universal nature of its themes.

(Photos: PR Team)