Doha Film Institute
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Matters of Existence – Short Films Programme (PG-15)
A thought-provoking collection of shorts, each revealing universal human themes like identity, rights, and resilience across cultures. These powerful stories explore how our shared experiences connect us all.
Hilal Short Film Programme
Young Rose learns her neighbours sacrifice sheep in a traditional ritual. Struggling with the meaning of such customs, she resolves to save as many animals as possible.
Rose, a young girl in Tehran, lives with her mother and a dog. When she discovers her neighbours preparing sheep for sacrifice during the Eid-e-Ghorban ceremony, she is both puzzled and disturbed. Unable to accept these customs in a modern world, Rose embarks on a mission to rescue the animals. This heartfelt story presents the quiet defiance of a child standing up to tradition, exploring how innocence and compassion can challenge long-held practices within a close-knit community.

Credits

Director
Hadi Babaeifar
Screenwriter
Hadi Babaeifar
Producer
Hadi Babaeifar
Cinematographer
Adib Sobhani
Editor
Hamid Nakafirad
Music
N/A
Cast
Rose Tabatabaei, Gelavij Alam

About the Director

Hadi Babaeifar
Hadi Babaeifar was born in Tehran in 1983. He found his passion for filmmaking in his early twenties, studying at the Karnameh Institute of Arts and Culture and working as a set photographer. In 2018, he completed his directing degree. His debut short, ‘Deer’, premiered in Berlin’s Generation section in 2022 and won the Special Jury Prize, marking the start of his animal trilogy. ‘Sheep’, the seco