This film takes viewers on a journey into the lives of several middle-class families in Tehran, Iran, where owning a pet dog is prohibited. It delves into the underlying reasons for this ban and highlights the people’s resilience. The participants discuss why they chose to have a dog despite the added stress it brings to their already challenging lives, which are compounded by a lack of freedom and financial crises. This story follows individuals striving for a normal life, highlighting their resilience as they seek happiness despite the nonsensical obstacles they face. It is a constant battle.
Saeideh Akhkan
Saeideh Akhkan is an Iranian-Canadian documentary filmmaker who has worked on many projects, mainly as a scriptwriter and researcher, since 2000. She holds a master’s degree in physics and received her MFA (Doc Media) from Toronto Metropolitan University in 2023.
Saeideh has worked on ten documentary series, many short films, and a few mid-length documentaries. The Forbidden Dogs is her own first feature film. Saeideh’s previous works, which were mostly about wildlife and environmental issues, have been awarded in festivals, including the Wildscreen Panda Award (United Kingdom) and the International Wildlife Film Festival Award (United States).