Canterbury Screens A Fox Under a Pink Moon

A Fox Under a Pink Moon tells the story of Soraya, a 16-year-old Afghan artist living in Iran with a violent husband, who is desperate to escape and join her mother in Austria. Through her art, Soraya channels her fears and emotions into dark and beautiful sculptures and illustrations, which feature recurring figures such as a loyal fox and a pink moon.

The documentary, directed by Mehrdad Oskouei and codirected by Soraya Akhlaghi, is a subtly textured self-portrait that weaves together chilling scenes of Soraya's escape attempts with news from Afghanistan and her visionary art. The film's use of surreal animations and dancing adds to its emotional impact, creating a profound portrait of survival, creativity, and hope. Mehrdad Oskouei worked entirely remotely on the film, with Soraya filming the footage herself using her phone, which adds to the documentary's intimacy and immediacy.

The film has already gained recognition, winning Best Film at IDFA 2025, and its success is a testament to the power of documentary filmmaking to tell important and moving stories. A Fox Under a Pink Moon is a documentary that explores themes of freedom, creativity, and hope, and its unique filmmaking process makes it a compelling watch.

The documentary will be screened at the Curzon Canterbury Westgate in Canterbury on Friday, 13 November 2026. Tickets are with the button beside the article. The film is a 1 hour and 16-minute documentary, and its screening is a great opportunity to see a powerful and moving film that has already gained international recognition.

The film's background is rooted in the collaborative efforts of its directors, Mehrdad Oskouei and Soraya Akhlaghi, who worked together to create a film that is both a personal portrait of Soraya's experiences and a wider exploration of the themes of freedom and creativity. As a documentary, A Fox Under a Pink Moon is a significant work that sheds light on the experiences of Afghan artists and the challenges they face in their pursuit of creative expression and personal freedom.