DocHouse: LDNDOCS 2026: A Fox Under a Pink Moon

Dir: Mehrdad Oskouei, Soraya Akhlaghi
1h 16m · 2026 · Documentary
At 16, Afghan artist Soraya is living in Iran with a violent husband, desperate to reach her mother in Austria and to live freely. She is a brilliant artist, channelling her fears into dark and beautiful sculptures and illustrations.
This subtly textured self-portrait weaves chilling scenes of Soraya's escape attempts over five years, with news from Afghanistan and her visionary art, surreal animations and dancing. Many of her drawings, created along her escape route, feature recurring figures: a loyal fox who is her traveling companion, a pink moon that watches over her, and a clown who never laughs.
Filmmaker Mehrdad Oskouei worked entirely remotely, as Soraya filmed the footage herself using her phone. The result is a beautiful and profound portrait of survival, creativity and hope, which won Best Film at IDFA 2025.