my tehran for sale

developing the film

MY TEHRAN FOR SALE started more than three years before the film was made during a conversation between the director and her friend, actress Marzieh Vafamehr who was the inspiration for the film.

In keeping with the tradition of Iranian script writing, the first draft of MY TEHRAN FOR SALE was only 40 pages. Working initially with celebrated Iranian filmmaker Bahman Ghobadi on developing the concept, the structure and the themes, Granaz Moussavi then teamed up with Australian producers Julie Ryan and Kate Croser and developed subsequent drafts, over a period of 18 months, supported by the South Australian Film Corporation.

Over that time Cyan Films engaged script editors to work with Granaz on the story, structure, subtext and dialogue. It was an important decision to work with both Iranian and Australian script editors (Annette Blonski in Australia and Peyman Yegameh and Morteza Abkenar from Iran) to ensure that the story was true to its Iranian roots while remaining relevant to an Australian and wider Western audience. Over the last six months of script development the filmmakers continued to consult with Baman Ghobadi and also worked with Australian marketing advisors Sue Murray and Victoria Treole of filmmarketing.