Tatami (film)

2023 film

Tatami

Theatrical release poster

Directed by|

* Guy Nattiv
* Zar Amir Ebrahimi

Screenplay by|

* Elham Erfani
* Guy Nattiv

Produced by|

* Adi Ezroni
* Mandy Tagger Brockey
* Guy Nattiv
* Ori Allon
* Jaime Ray Newman

Starring|

* Arienne Mandi
* Zar Amir Ebrahimi

Cinematography| Todd Martin
Edited by| Yuval Orr
Music by| Dascha Dauenhauer

Production
companies

* New Native Pictures
* Keshet Studios
* WestEnd Films
* White Lodge Productions
* Maven Screen Media
* Tale Runners
* Sarke Studios

Distributed by| XYZ Films

Release dates

* September 2, 2023 (2023-09-02) (Venice)
* June 13, 2025 (2025-06-13) (United States)

Running time

| 105 minutes[1]
Countries|

* United States
* United Kingdom
* Israel
* Georgia

Languages|

* Persian
* English

Box office| $2 million[2]

Tatami is a 2023 sports drama thriller film directed by Guy Nattiv and Zar Amir Ebrahimi, from a screenplay by Nattiv and Elham Erfani. It stars Arienne Mandi, Ebrahimi, Jaime Ray Newman, Ash Goldeh and Sina Parvaneh.

It had its world premiere at the 80th Venice International Film Festival on September 2, 2023, receiving positive reviews from the critics and audience.

## Synopsis

[edit]

The film follows Iranian female judoka Leila (Arienne Mandi) and her coach Maryam (Zar Amir Ebrahimi), who travel to the World Judo Championships in Tbilisi, Georgia, intent on bringing home Iran’s first gold medal. This includes a possible encounter with an Israeli athlete, something that the Mullah regime prohibits. Midway through the competition, Leila and her coach receive repeated threats from the Islamic Republic ordering Leila to fake an injury and drop out of the tournament. With her own and her family’s freedom at stake, Leila faces a difficult choice: feign injury and comply with the Iranian regime as Maryam implores her to do, or defy them both and fight on, for the gold.[3]

Although Maryam urges Leila to feign an injury and withdraw, Leila remains determined to compete. This leads to an altercation between them, which officials of the World Judo Association notice. An exasperated Leila bangs her head against a bathroom mirror leading to a gash on her forehead. As Leila continues competing, the Iranian authorities begin retaliating against her family, attempting to arrest her husband and coercing her father into sending her a video message urging her to withdraw. World Judo Association officials interview Leila and confirm that she is being threatened, but Leila cannot think of anything they can do to help her. Leila eventually loses in a match with a Georgian judoka. Officials in the Iranian tournament delegation then attempt to force Maryam into a car and back to Iran, but Maryam runs away. Leila, her family, and Maryam obtain asylum in France.

## Cast

[edit]

* Arienne Mandi as Leila Hosseini
* Zar Amir Ebrahimi as Maryam Ghanbari
* Jaime Ray Newman as Stacey Travisi
* Nadine Marshall as Jean Claire Abriel
* Lirr Katz as Shani Lavi
* Ash Goldeh as Nader Hosseini
* Sina Parvaneh as Azizi
* Valeriu Andriuță as Vlad
* Mehdi Bajestani as Amar Hossein
* Justina (Farima Habashizadehasl) as Herself
* Elham Erfani as Assistant coach

## Production

[edit]

With Guy Nattiv and Zar Amir Ebrahimi as co-directors, the project marks the first feature film to be co-directed by an Iranian and an Israeli filmmaker.[4][5] Tatami is produced for Keshet Studios by Adi Ezroni and Mandy Tagger Brockey, alongside Guy Nattiv and Jaime Ray Newman from New Native Pictures.[6]

WestEnd Films acquired international rights in February 2023.[7] Other production companies involved in the project include White Lodge Productions, Maven Pictures, Tale Runners and Sarke Studios.[8]

### Casting

[edit]

In February 2023 the cast was revealed to include Arienne Mandi and Amir Ebrahimi in the lead roles, with appearances by Jaime Ray Newman, Nadine Marshall and Mehdi Bajestani.[9]

### Filming

[edit]

In February 2023 the film was revealed by the Hollywood Reporter to be in post-production.[10] First-look images from the film were released in May 2023.[11]

## Release

[edit]

It had its World premiere at the 80th Venice International Film Festival on September 2, 2023.[12] and its Asian premiere at the 36th Tokyo International Film Festival[13] on October 25, 2023. It was also screened in the 19th Zurich Film Festival[14] on October 2, 2023. In February 2024, XYZ Films acquired US distribution rights to the film.[15] The film was released in the United States on June 13, 2025.[16]

## Awards

[edit]

* Brian Award at the 80th Venice International Film Festival[17]
* Special Jury Prize at the 36th Tokyo International Film Festival[18]
* Best Actress for Zar Amir Ebrahimi at the 36th Tokyo International Film Festival[19]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Tatami". Venice International Film Festival. July 18, 2023. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
2. ^ "Tatami". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved June 15, 2025.
3. ^ Ramachandran, Naman (February 8, 2023). "'Holy Spider' Star Zar Amir Ebrahimi, 'Golda' Director Guy Nattiv Team on Iran-Defying Film 'Untitled Judo,' WestEnd to Launch Sales at EFM". Variety. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
4. ^ "Israeli director, Iranian actress team up on movie for the first time". Jerusalem Post. February 9, 2023. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
5. ^ "First film co-directed by Iranian and Israeli spotlights Iranian human rights abuses". Israelnationalnews.com. February 8, 2023. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
6. ^ Ntim, Zac (February 8, 2023). "WestEnd Films Boards 'Untitled Judo' Co-Directed By Guy Nattiv, Zar Amir Ebrahimi & Will Launch Sales At Berlin — EFM". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 8, 2023. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
7. ^ Calnan, Ellie (February 8, 2023). "WestEnd boards thriller 'Untitled Judo' co-directed by 'Holy Spider' star Zar Amir Ebrahimi and Guy Nattiv". Screen Daily. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
8. ^ "First Look at Keshet Studios' Political Thriller Judo Directed by Gur Nattiv & Zar Amir-Ebrahimi". Keshet International. May 17, 2023. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
9. ^ "Holy Spider' Star Zar Amir Ebrahimi, 'Golda' Director Guy Nattiv Team on Iran-Defying Film 'Untitled Judo,' WestEnd to Launch Sales at EFM". Weareactors.com. February 8, 2023. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
10. ^ "Guy Nattiv, Zar Amir Ebrahimi to Become First Israeli, Iranian Duo to Co-Direct Feature With Political Thriller 'Untitled Judo'". Hollywood Reporter. February 8, 2023. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
11. ^ Ravindran, Manori (May 16, 2023). "Guy Nattiv, Zar Amir-Ebrahimi Unveil First Look at Political Thriller 'Judo' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
12. ^ Tartaglione, Nancy (July 25, 2023). "Venice Film Festival Lineup: Mann, Lanthimos, Fincher, DuVernay, Cooper, Besson, Coppola, Hamaguchi In Competition; Polanski, Allen, Anderson, Linklater Out Of Competition – Full List". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
13. ^ Rosser2023-09-27T09:23:00+01:00, Michael. "Tokyo reveals 20 world premieres among 2023 competition titles". Screen. Retrieved October 4, 2023.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
14. ^ "Tatami". zff.com. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
15. ^ Vlessing, Etan (February 17, 2024). "XYZ Films Nabs Iranian Drama 'Tatami' From 'Golda' Director Guy Nattiv and Zar Amir Ebrahimi". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
16. ^ Billington, Alex (May 8, 2025). "Official US Trailer for 'Tatami' Film Following an Iranian Judo Fighter". First Showing. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
17. ^ "Mostra del Cinema di Venezia: il Premio Brian 2023 a "Tatami" di Guy Nattiv e Zar Amir Ebrahimi". A ragion veduta. UAAR. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
18. ^ Rosser2023-11-01T10:02:00+00:00, Michael. "'Snow Leopard' by late Pema Tseden wins top award at Tokyo film festival". Screen. Retrieved November 5, 2023.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
19. ^ Steinberg, Jessica. "Israeli-Iranian film 'Tatami' wins at Tokyo International Film Festival". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved November 5, 2023.

## External links

[edit]

* Tatami at IMDb