ORIGINALTITLE NOLAND’SSONGGENRE FeaturedocumentaryTOPICS Music,Women’sRightsFORMAT HD–16/9DURATION 91minWRITER/DIRECTOR AyatNajafiPRODUCERS Germany ToreroFilm:RouvenRech&TeresaRenn HANFGARN&UFER:GunterHanfgarnFrance CHAZProductions:AnneGrange INTERNATIONALSALES ILLUMINAFilms:RobinBrinsterWITHTHESUPPORTOF MedienboardBerlin-Brandenburg, MFGFilmförderungBaden-Württemberg, KuratoriumjungerdeutscherFilm Centrenationalducinémaetdel’imageanimée SACEM InstitutFrançais–MinistèredesAffairesÉtrangères TV5Monde

WORLDPREMIERE MontréalWorldFilmFestival–August2014

SYNOPSIS*NOLAND’SSONG*In Iran, since the revolution of 1979, women are no longer allowed to sing in public assoloists-atleastinfrontofmen.Defyingcensorshipandtaboos,theyoungcomposerSaraNajafiisdeterminedtoorganizeanofficialconcertforsolofemalesingers. Inordertosupporttheirfight,SaraandtheIraniansingers,ParvinNamaziandSayehSodeyfi,invitethreefemalesingersfromParis,EliseCaron,Jeanne Cherhal and Emel Mathlouthi, to join them in Tehran and collaborate on theirmusicalproject,re-openingamusicalbridgebetweenFranceandIran.ButaretheygoingtosucceedandfinallybegatheredinTehran,singfreely,side-by-side,infront of a mixed audience and without restrictions, and to open a door towards a newfreedomoffemalevoiceinIran?

AWARDS/FESTIVALS•AudienceAwardbestdocumentary-MontrealWorldFilmFestival•Bestdocumentarydirector–NOORIranianFilmFestival,LosAngeles•YouthJuryAward-DOKLeipzig•DocuFICXbestdocumentary-GijónInternationalFilmFestival•AudienceAward–MiddleEastNowFestival•SpecialMentionfromtheJuryoftheFleury-Mérogisprison-InternationalFilmFestivalofHumanRightsinParis•SpecialMentionfromEXBERLINERPrize–AchtungBerlin•MentionspécialeduJuryDocFilmMusic-KrakówFilmFestival•NestorAlmendrosPrice-HumanRightsWatchFilmfestival•PeaceFilmAward–UnabhängigesFilmfest,Osnabrück•AudienceAward–VerzioInternationalHumanRightsFilmFestival•BestLongerFilmAward–InternationalFolkMusicFilmFestival,Kathmandu•BestFilmofWomen`sRights-BirduinoInternationalDocumentaryFilm•SelectionoftheEuropäischenFilmfestivalforBestDocumentary2015• BigAward@Festival2Valenciennes• Critic'sPrize@Festival2Valenciennes• Prixdupublic@FestivaldeCinémadesCinqContinents• BestdocumentaryfilmAward@CinemaDelReale,Italy•Long-listedfortheGermanFilmAwards/Lola2017

Otherfestivals(selection)

• ReelIndieFilmFestival,Toronto,Canada(Oct.2014)• TracesdeVies–FestivalofDocumentaryFilm,Clermont-Ferrand,France(Nov.2014)• MardelPlataInternationalFilmFestival,Argentina(Nov.2014)• GöteborgInternationalFilmFestival,Sweden(Jan./Feb.2015)• OneWorldInternationalHumanRightsDocumentaryFilmFestivalPrague,CzechRepublic(March2015)• FIFDH-ParisHumanRightInternationalFilmFestival(March2015)• Festivalinternationaldufilmd’Aubagne,France(March2015)• HumantRightsWatchFilmFestival,London,UK(March2015)• FestivalItinérancesd'AlèsFrance(March2015)• PanoramadescinémasduMaghrebetduMoyen-Orient,SaintDenis,Paris,

Montpellier,Lyon(March2015)• DokumentarfilmwocheHamburg,Germany(April2015)• IstanbulFilmFestival,Turkey(April2015)• CrossingEuropeFilmfestival,Linz,Austria(April2015)• AnkaraUluslararasiFilmFestival,Ankara,Turkey(May2015)• Kino2015–AmlmanFilmleriTurkie`de,Izmir,Turkey(May2015)• CannesCinephilesSektion«VisionsSociales,Cannes,France(May2015)• Visionssociales–CCAS,Cannes,Franve(May2015)• FestivaldufilmdeCabourg,France(June2015)• MiddleEastNowFestival,Florenz(June2015)• HumanRightsWatchFilmFestival-NewYork,USA(June2015)• FestivalDocumentarist,Istanbul,Turkey(June2015)• FestivalCinéma(s)d`Iran–Paris,France(June2015)• MiddleEastSummerNights,Firenze,Italy(June2015)• FestivalImagesetpalabres–Tailhac,France(July2015)• FestivaldeLama-Lama,France(Aug.2015)• DocLounge–Stockholm,Sweden(Aug.2015)• FiveLakesFestival–Bavaria,Germany(Aug.2015)• FilmandArtFestivalTwoRiversides–KazimierzDolny,Poland(Aug.2015)• FestivaldeGindou–France(Aug.2015)• IranianFilmFestival-Munich,Germany(Sept.2015)• MICGéneroFestival–MexicoCity,Mexico(Sept.2015)• FIWOM–FilmFestivalforWomen`sRights–Seoul,SouthKorea(Sept.2015)• PATRZENA:IslamFilmFestival–Poland(Sept./Oct.2015)• VancouverInternationalFilmFestival–Vancouver,Canada(Sept./Oct.2015)• FestivalCiné32-Indépendance(s)etcréation–Auch,France(Oct.2015)• FestivaldeSaint-Paul-3-Châteaux,France(Oct.2015)• FilmsFemmesMediterranee-Marseille,France(Oct.2015)• FIFDHdeGuadeloupe,France(Oct.2015)• FestivalHaizebegi,lesMondesdelaMusique–Bayonne,France(Oct.2015)• AntennaDocumentaryFilmFestival–Sydney,Australia(Oct.2015)• TracesdeVies–FestivalofDocumentaryFilm,Clermont-Ferrand,France(Oct.2015)• Tofifest–Torun,Poland(Oct.2015)• Jeevika,12thAsiaLivelihoodDocumentaryFilmFestival–NewDelhi,India(Nov.2015)• FestivalRegardsdeFemmes–PontSaint-Esprit,France(Nov.2015)• NorthwestFilmCenter–PortlandArtMuseum–Portland,USA(Nov.2015)• Kyivmusicfilm–Kiev,Ukraine(Nov.2015)• FestivaldufilmFranco-Arabe–Romainville,France(Nov.2015)• FestivalCinemy&Musiques–Agen,France(Nov.2015)• FIFDHFestivalInternationalduFilmdesDroitsdeL`Homme–Strasbourg,France(Nov.2015)• HumanRightsWatchFilmFestival–Nairobi,Kenya(Nov.2015)• OffenbachInternational–Offenbach,Germany(Nov.2015)• FestivalMusiquesenDocs-Mouans-Sartoux,France(Nov.2015)• FestivalResonances–Bobigny,France(Nov.2015)• MoisduFilmDocumentaire–Loudeac,France(Nov.2015)• FilmfestFrauenwelten–Tübingen,Germany(Nov.2015)

• InternationalDocumentaryFilmFestivalOneWorld–Bratislava,Slovakia(Nov.2015)• ForumdesImages–Paris,France(Dec.2015)• FestivalSignesdeNuit–Paris,France(Dec.2015)• FestivalNuitsd`Orient–Chenove,France(Dec.2015)• FestivalToilessurToile–Clichy-Sous-Bois,France(Dec.2015)• FestivalCinéma(s)d`IranAubervilliers,France(Dec.2015)• FestivalInternationalduFilmdesDroitsdel`HommedeGironde,France(Jan.2016)• BerlinerPhilharmonie–Berlin,Germany(Jan.2016)• FestivalofIranianFilms–Prague,CzechRepublic(Jan.2016)• SaltSpringFilmFestival–SaltSpringIslandBC,Canada(March2016)• EPOSFestivalTelAviv–Israel(March2016)• AsianFilmFestival-SanFransisco,USA(CAAM)(March2016)• ACTHumanRightsFF–FortCollinsColorade,USA(April2016)• FRAGMENTS-facinghumanrights–Graz,Austria(April2016)• ChicagoInternationalMovies&MusicFestival(CIMMfest)–Chicago,USA(April2016)• Mediterranefestival-Ashdot,Israel(June2016)• DaysofCinema2016FilmlabPalistine–Ramallah,Palestine(Oct.2016)• MostraInternationaldeCineSaoPauloFilmFestival–SaoPaolo,Brasil(Oct.2016)• FestivalinternationalSignesdeNuit-Lissabon,Portugal(Oct.2016)• BeirutInternationalFilmFestival–Beirut,(Oct.2016)• FestivalInternationalduCinémad’AuteurdeRabat-Rabat,Morocco(Oct.2016)

PRESSCOMMENTS

• TheGuardian: An "audacious" film and enterprise. Unfortunately, the respite fromofficialoppressionprovedtemporary—hardlinersbannedperformancesbyfemalesevenasbackingsingers.https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/mar/16/no-lands-songs-sara-najafi-iran-women-concert

• Hollywood Reporter: Much more than a 'let's do a show' movie, the reviewerconsiders it tobeenthralling, rivetingandempowering,even though itsend isnotsuspenseful. The proferred religious justification for the ban is that female solosingingmaybesexuallyarousingtomaleaudiencemembers,and isakintoputtingtoomanyingredientsintothesoup.“AyatNajafi'sdocumentaryisaboutthefightforawoman'srighttosinginIran.”http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/no-lands-song-film-review-809544

• MiddleEastMonitor:Facingendlessbarriers, thegroupstrugglesto itsdefiantand

triumphant conclusion. "Inspired by the memories of ballsy female Iranian singerQamar-ol-MolukVaziriwho, in1924,becamethefirst femaletoperformwithoutahijabinfrontofmen,theyremainoptimistic....IntheconcertshededicateshersolototheIranianyouthfromtheTunisianyouth.Insteadofacelebrationofthefemalevoice,itseemstohavebecomeamuchmoreobviousactofrebellion"whichconveystheiremotion.https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20150320-no-lands-song-the-women-whose-voice-will-not-be-silenced/

• TheNewYorkTimes:Clearlyshowingcourageinfilmmakingandthusdeservingthe

HumanRightsWatchInternationalNestorAlmendrosaward,itis"candidinitsviewsabout the Iranian government’s attitudes towardwomen, it sears its protagonist’sstory into the hearts of viewers with a narrative of artistic resistance, humor,friendship, and, ultimately, triumph in a country notorious for denying women’srights."http://nytlive.nytimes.com/womenintheworld/2015/06/22/iranian-musician-fights-for-womens-rights-to-perform-in-public/

• Variety: The film is a "gripping documentary" and "a finely tooled, multi-layered

[film]."This"grippingchronicleofhereffortscoversanearlythree-yearperiodandisas fullofupsanddownsasarollercoaster,andburstingwithbeautifulmusic.Theinspiring, enlightening, audience-friendly pic" should receive commercial aswell asculturalsuccess.http://variety.com/2015/film/festivals/no-lands-song-review-1201615085/

DIRECTOR’SNOTE

MysisterSaramakesmusicsincetheageof4.WatchinghergothroughthechallengesofbeingafemalemusicianinIran,andthefirstwomantogetadiplomaofcompositioninIran,hasledmetoanawarenessofthedifficultiesfacingIranianwomeninmusicinmycountrytoday.In this film, I want to shed light on the problems faced by a new generation of Iranianmusicians. Sara’s love of music is the most important element in her everyday life. Theconcert that shewants to organize for andwithher friends, is a groupeffort to confrontourselveswithadreamwhichcouldfinallybecomereality.TheroleofmusicinallsocialandpoliticaldevelopmentsinIranduringthe20thcenturyhasbeencrucial.MusicrepresentsandgivesvoicetothedesireofeachperiodinIran’shistory.Even though somany female singers have left Iran since the revolution in 1979,many ofthemstillliveandworkinIran.Theironicfactthatmanymoreyounggirlsattendthemusicschools than boys is very surprising forme.Why are they learning something consideredillegalforthem?

The filmfollowsstepbysteptheprocessoforganizingaconcert inTehranbyquestioningfromwithinthesystemofcensorshipinIran.Myfilmhighlightsthelimitsoffreedominmynativecountrybyinterrogatingthemheadon-infrontofthecamera.Intermsofstrategy,we have operated during this long shooting, opposing Sara’s determination and "falsenaivety" to the prohibitions that were opposed to us. We have adopted a "politicallycorrect"posture.Thisallowedustofilmor(secretly)recordallstagesofSara’sauthorizationrequestsandmeetingswithdepartmentalofficialsandreligiousauthorities,andtohighlightthelogicofthecensorshipoperatedbytheIranianregime.AsthefilmfollowsSara’sfighttostagetheconcert,thefilmbringstheinterior,the"logic"ofIranianlawtolight.

Themusicallayerofthefilmiscenteredontherevolutionarysong"BirdofDawn"(Morq-eSahar)which singerswill try togiveanewvoice to. This film is alsoa tributeQamar, thislegendary female singerwho, in the '20s,was able tobreak taboos in Iranian society andfreethefemalevoice,thisverysamefightSaraandherfriendshaveto leadagainnow.Inthe1920s,Qamarhadmanaged to free thevoiceofwomen.Shepassed it from inside tooutside,fromtheprivatedomainwhereitwasconfined,tothepublicworld.HerpersistenceinspiredusthedesiretochallengeourturntothenewgovernmentofIran.

ThefilmfocusesonthecentralcharacterofSara.TheFrenchcharactersserveasasortofpoignant counterpoint: Between culture shock and artistic solidarity, we experience thevoyage to Tehran in the eyes of Elise Caron, Jeanne Cherhal and Emel Mathlouthi,accompaniedbythreemalemusicians,whobecomemoreandmoreawareoftherealityoffemale singers as they finally join Sara and participate actively in her fight with IraniansingersParvinNamazi,SayehSodeyfiandtheotherIranianmusicians.Here,musicactsasthecoreoffemalestrengthfightingwiththerepression.SingingasthestrongestexpressionofthebodyisthemainenemyoftheIslamicrepublicofIran.

At the endof our adventure, a dooropened forwomen's voices, the timeof an evening,September19,2013,intheCityOperaofTehran:butwhatabouttomorrow?

AyatNajafi

CREDITSWITH SaraNajafi,ParvinNamazi,SayehSodeyfi,

ÉliseCaron,JeanneCherhal,EmelMathlouthiandthemusiciansEdwardPerraud(drums),MaryamTajhdeh(tar),AliRahimi(Tombak),SébastienHoog(guitar),ImedAlibi(percussions),AliKazemian(voice),ChakadFesharaki(Kamancheh)

CREWWRITER/DIRECTOR AyatNajafiCAMERA KoohyarKalari,SarahBlumSOUND SasanNakhai,DanaFarzanehpour,JulienBrossierEDITING JuliaWiedwald,SchokofehKamizSOUNDDESIGN OliverStahnORIGINALMUSIC SaraNajafi,SébastienHoog,EdwardPerraudPRE-EXISTINGMUSIC HosseinAlizadeh,ÉliseCaron,EmelMathlouthiPRODUCERSGERMANY GunterHanfgarn,RouvenRech,TeresaRenn PatrickMerkleFRANCE ElisabethPerrez,AlexisGenauzeauAnneGrange

PROTAGONISTS

ComposerandpianistSARANAJAFI,sisterofthedirectorAyat Najafi, was born in 1980 in Tehran.WewillfollowherfootstepsduringtheadventureofNO LAND'S SONG, as she’s the main initiator of theconcertplannedtotakeplace inTehran.Shewillbeourguide when we meet the people of today's Iran.SaraNajafistartedplayingpianoattheageoffour.Attheage 12, she entered theMusic Conservatory of Tehran,then in 1998 she joined the University of Art andArchitecture where she has taught since 2003.She is the first woman to receive a diploma in

composition in Iran. She also composed themusic for several short films ("Opposite", "Astripeddream","SomewhereontheLand",...)andtheatreplays("TheSeagull,""TheNightofCompanionship).Shewrotethesoundtrackofthefeaturefilm"Zagros",premieredattheInternationalFajrFilmFestival inTehran in2006. In2008,sheparticipated intheBerlinaleTalentCampus.SheteachespianoandtheOrffmethodoftheoryandharmonysince1998.

PARVIN NAMAZI is one of the great traditional Persianvoicesofthepresentage.Bornin1953inIran,shebeganher career at the age of nine as a solo singer for achildren's programon Iranian television. She left Iran in1972tostarthereducationinGermany.Hercareertookoffinthe1980swhenshejoinedtheensemble"Darvish"in Berlin, where she worked with Hossein Alizadeh, amasteroftraditionalIranianmusic,andMohammad-RezaLotfi.After20yearsofexile,ParvinreturnedtoIraninthe1990stostudythetraditionalfolkmusicofKurdistan.Herfirst album "Kurdana" was banned from publication inIran.

Mezzo-sopranoSAYEHSODEYFI,born1979 inTehran, isstudyingatAzadUniversity,where she studiedSetar. InArmenia at the Yerevan Komitas State Musicalconservatory she obtained a Master in classical music.She followed the teaching of Jolieta Nazarian, AleedaHarotonian, Kambiz Roshanravan Hussein Alizadeh,MohammadrezaDarvishiandMasoodShoari.Sincethen,she has performed in numerous recitals and festivals inIran and elsewhere. She currently teaches at theUniversityKarbordiElmi,theConservatoryofTehranandvarious other institutes. She is also a member of theEducational Association of Austrian Embassy and an

activecomposer.

SongwriterÉLISECARONisacontemporarysinger,equallyathomeinimprovisationandmusicals.Until1990,shegaverecitalsrangingfromBrecht,Sophocles,ShakespearethroughMonteverdi,Faure,Debussy,Schoenberg.DuringthisperiodshemetcontemporarycomposerssuchasBrunoGillet,LucFerrari,MichelMusseau,JacquesRebotierFrederickLagnauAlbertMarcoeurwhoalsowroteforher.In1995shebeganwritingherownsongswiththeclosecollaborationofpianistandcomposerDenisChouillet,includingSongsforlittleearsin2000andEurydicein2002.Sheworkedwith

JohnGreaves,YvesRobert,Jean-RémyGuédonLucasGillet,EricWatson,EdwardPerraud,...Shealsoreappearedincinemain2008,afterseeingherintheleadroleofMolotovCocktailbyDianeKurysin1979,orheardasavoiceliningVirginieLedoyeninJeanneandthePerfectBoyin1998.In2010shewontheVictoireawardasthebestjazzsingeroftheyear.In2014and2015shereleasedtwonewalbums:»Emler:Présencesd'esprits«withAndyEmlerand»Orchestrales«.http://www.facebook.com/elise.caron.988

JEANNECHERHALspentherchildhoodinthecountrysideofNantesbeforeshedecidedtomovetoParis,dreamingof becoming a ballet dancer. Her career really startedwiththereleaseofherstudioalbumTwelvetimesayear,where she finallydeveloppedher styleand imagination.In March 2005, she was awarded the Victoires de laMusiqueasthebestnewcomeroftheyear.Inthecourseof 2006, the singer surprised with her beautiful albumOffering Water, in which the artist indulges moreambition and depth. In March 2010, Jeanne Cherhalchanged the record label and released the albumCharadechezBarclay.In2014,shereleasedanewalbum,

»History de J.« marked by her encounter with the world of Véronique Sanson -http://www.jeannecherhal.fr

EMEL MATHLOUTHI, dedicated Tunisian singer andcomposer, impressedinthefirsteditionofthePrixRMCMiddle East in 2006 where she was a finalist.With her outstanding vocal qualities, her mesmerizingstyle,sometimeslyrical,shemanagedtopaintaworldina most singular and unusual way, her inspiration israngingfromthesalinewaterofherrootsuptoelectro-eclectic sounds. The combination of different musicaluniverseswith itsmanysourcesof inspiration ledtothebirthofanoriginalrepertoirerangingfromArabicmusic,electroandpsychedelicrock.Followingthesuccessofher

firstalbum,»KelmtiHorra«,herupcomingnewalbum,»Ensen«,willbereleasedinfebruary2017,whereshedemonstratesagainanamazingmusicalvariety.http://emelmathlouthi.com

ABOUTTHEFILMDIRECTOR

BorninTehranin1976andcurrentlylivingbetweenBerlinandIran,AyatNajafifirststudiedscenography.In1995,hesetupacompanyforstudenttheaterattheUniversityofTehran,participatinginseveralworkshopsledbysomemastersofIraniantheater.Heworkedonseveraltheatricalproductionsasdirector,writer,actoranddesigner.Since2000,AyatNajafidevelopedhisdirectorialwork.In2003,hefoundedArtaAtelier,focusingonaninterdisciplinaryandmultimediaapproachtotheater,andmadeshortexperimentalanddocumentaryfilms.In2005,heparticipatedintheBerlinaleTalentCampuswithhisshortfilmMoveIt(2004).AsastudentattheUniversityofKonstanz(2008-2009),hepresentedhisplayStoriesofwomenwithmustachesandmeninskirts.LadyTehran,hissecondtheatricalproductioninGermanywithaninternationalteam,premieredinBerlinin2009,followedbyPakistan[Doesnot]exist.In2008hemadehisfirstfeaturedocumentary,FootballUnderCover.FILMOGRAPHYFootballUnderCover,featuredocumentary,2008,co-directorDavidAssmann,86min(cinema)and52min(TV),HD,Production:FlyingMoon• PrixEuropaIris2009• TeddyawardforBestDocumentary–InternationalFilmFestivalBerlin2008• Teddyaudienceaward-InternationalFilmFestivalBerlin2008• NominatedforFirstStepsAward2008• FreedomAward-Outfest2008,L.A.,USA• AudienceAward-PinkApple,2008

PRODUCERSGERMANYToreroFilmisaGermanproductioncompanyfocusedondocumentaryfilms.FoundedinBerlinin2005byRouvenRechandTeresaRenn,asecondofficewasopenedin2007inKonstanz.PatrickMerkle,ProducerofAyatNajafi`sdocumentaryFootballUnderCover,ispartoftheteam.http://www.torerofilm.de

HANFGARN & UFER with offices in Berlin and Hamburg wasfounded by Gunter Hanfgarn and Andrea Ufer in 1991. Thecompany produces features and documentary films withinternational broadcasters, coproduction partners and film fundsworldwide. Most of the prize-winning films were distributedworldwide.http://www.HU-film.de

FRANCECHAZProductions,establishedin1994,isledbyElisabethPerezandAlexisGenauzeausince1999.CHAZproducedshortfilmsbySolveigAnspach,ChristineDory,BrigitteSy,RachidaKrim,SandrineVeysset,MréjenKarinAlbouValerie

Mitteaux,BerylPeillard,…Since2013,twofeaturefilmswerelaunched:MaxandLennybyFredNicolasandLabellesaisonbyCatherineCorsini.http://www.chazproductions.fr

CONTACTPRODUCERSGunterHanfgarn RouvenRech ElisabethPerrezHANFGARN&UFER ToreroFilmGbR CHAZProductionsApostel-Paulus-Str.6 Kastanienallee56 224,rueSaint-Denis10823Berlin 10119Berlin 75002ParisT:+49(0)3084855000 T:+49(0)3055575621-0 T:+33(0)973610274www.hu-film.de www.torerofilm.de www.chazproductions.frhanfgarn@HU-film.de rouven@torerofilm.de contact@chazproductions.frINTERNATIONALSALES DISTRIBUTORGERMANY PRESSCONTACTRobinBrinster MarcWessel FelixNeunzerling ILLUMINAFilms BASIS-FILMVerleihGmbH ZOOMMedienfabrikGmbHLeidsestraat106 NeuePromenade7 Suarezstraße621017PGAmsterdam 10178Berlin 14057BerlinT:+31(0)206248395 T:+49(0)307934609 T:+49(0)3031506868www.illuminafilms.nl www.basisfilm.de www.zoommedienfabrik.derobin@illuminafilms.nl info@basisfilm.de office@zoommedienfabrik.deSOCIALMEDIAAnnekathrinOttoGRUENSCHLAU&PARTNERc/oThinkfarm,Oranienstr.18310999BerlinT:+491792054027www.gruenschlaupartner.deanne@gruenschlaupartner.dehttp://www.nolandssong.comhttp://www.facebook.com/nolandssonghttp://twitter.com/TehranAtNighthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_Land%27s_Song