On the occasion of Psychicken‘s US Premiere at Love Your Shorts Film Festival in Sanford, Florida, we interviewed Iranian director Ata Mojabi to deepen his work behind the short’s making. Psychicken is a neo-noir film that premiered in Bulgaria at 2023 In the Palace Short Film Festival, and was selected in 2023 in Italy at Fi Pi Li Horror Festival and Magma Film Festival and in Spain at Molins Horror Film Festival and Pilas en Corto.

Thank you for the opportunity to interview you and learn more about your career. First of all, who is Ata Mojabi?

That’s a great question, and I ask myself this question every single day. Currently, I am a passionate husband, screenwriter, director, festival programmer, and teacher.

Where did your taste for filmmaking come from?

Growing up in Iran during the 1980s was tough due to the long and brutal war. At that time, it was illegal to have VHS tapes, making it difficult to watch movies. However, I was lucky enough to watch some of the greatest movies of all time on a small B&W TV with my father, and on an 8mm projector at my uncle’s house. My father and uncle are cinephiles, and at the time they had an extensive collection of films from Hollywood classics to European, Middle Eastern, and Far Eastern films, as well as Iranian New Wave and Bollywood movies. Later on, I got the opportunity to attend a one-year film course at Iranian Youth Cinema Society Film School, one of the oldest and most prestigious film schools in the region. The IYCS School was founded in Iran before the 1978 revolution and many filmmakers like Asghar Farhadi, Shahram Mokri, Majid Barzegar, and Mehrdad Oskoui graduated from it.

You have made neo-noir shorts since you were 17, what has your experience been like?

Film in all its forms is a collaborative Art and fortunately, I have had the chance to work with the best crazy, passionate and creative people in my career. It is always a pleasure creating with passionate artists.

How did the film project Psychicken come into the real world?

It all started when I decided to conquer my fear of creating a dialogue-free adaptation of my beloved novel, Crime and Punishment. Although the script was completed in just a few days, it took five long years to prepare for its production. During this time, I was fortunate enough to meet the Italian Producer Nicoletta Cataldo at a film festival in China. We both were there for our short film noirs at the festival. Nicoletta loved Psychicken screenplay and we decided to bring it to life with her company Insolita Film. We began collaborating to secure funding and grants in our respective countries. It took us two years to win several pitching awards, find investors and co-producers, and bring on talented artists. Despite financial and COVID- 19 restrictions, our passionate and creative team made unforgettable memories while making this film. The experience felt like a perfect storm of talent coming together to turn the project into a reality.

In your opinion, what is the significance and meaning of your short film genre at this particular point in time?

The naturalness of violence is the most important scourge of this era I believe. A few weeks ago, one of the veteran and famous Iranian filmmakers and his wife were brutally slaughtered in Tehran. These events are becoming more and more frequent every day and the border between illusion and reality is blurring.

Is that why you chose the fantasy and noir genre? To depict the blurred border between reality and illusion?

Yes. Recently in Iran, even though there are good cultural infrastructures, naked street violence has increased. My reaction was to present these events not in the form of the ugly reality that exists outside, which further promotes the normalization of violence, but in the form of stories and genres.

What else do you think needs to be done within the filmmaking world?

Above all, we must never forget to treat others with respect. Sadly, some people believe that in order to succeed, they must tear down others. It’s important to show that there is another way to succeed, even in the darkest of times. As we work to create light for others, we naturally light our way

Are you working on your next project?

Yes, I am currently producing multiple short films, and I am also preparing to make my first feature film.