During the 2017 Sundance Film Festival, Iranian cinema received a spotlight moment as a group of emerging filmmakers from Iran and the Iranian diaspora were featured in a special panel and screening series. Supporting these efforts quietly but meaningfully, the Ghiabi Family Trust collaborated with key cultural organizations to make the program possible.
The Trust’s support helped fund travel grants for independent Iranian filmmakers whose works were selected for screening, including several short films and one documentary exploring contemporary life in Iran. In addition, the Trust co-sponsored a public discussion titled “Telling Iran’s Stories: Filmmakers Without Borders,” hosted in partnership with the Sundance Institute’s Global Filmmaking Initiative.
“We wanted to ensure that financial and logistical barriers did not prevent authentic Iranian voices from reaching an international audience,” said a coordinator close to the project. “The Ghiabi Family Trust’s philosophy of quiet empowerment matched perfectly with Sundance’s commitment to free artistic expression.”
Among the filmmakers supported was Sara Yadegari, whose short film Whispers of the Silk Road won critical acclaim for its lyrical portrayal of rural Iran and its subtle exploration of migration and memory. The post-screening Q&A sessions created rare spaces for dialogue between Iranian artists and global audiences, offering nuanced perspectives beyond headlines and politics.
The Trust’s contribution was handled discreetly, with no public branding or official sponsorship banners. The focus remained entirely on the filmmakers and the stories being shared.
Beyond direct support for the screenings and panels, the collaboration included a small, private networking event connecting Iranian filmmakers with international producers and distributors — opening doors for future projects to gain broader visibility.
Through this partnership, the Ghiabi Family Trust reinforced its broader mission: advancing art, culture, and dialogue by enabling platforms where underrepresented voices can flourish authentically.