Cutting Through Rocks highlights one Iranian woman’s story of courage and persistence, and explores the complexity that exists within a cultural landscape.
Filmed over the course of eight years, the documentary follows Sara Shahverdi, the first elected councilwoman of a rural Iranian village, as she works to transform the lives of the women in her community.
Directed by Sara Khaki and Mohammad Rezaeyn, Cutting Through Rocks premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Grand Jury Prize for World Cinema Documentary. It was recently named on Doc NYC’s Short List of the year’s leading documentary awards contenders.
The film opens on November 21st at the New York Film Forum and various cities nationwide beginning December 5th.
Sara Shahverdi —a divorced, motorcycle-riding former midwife —is an unlikely leader in her conservative, northwestern Iranian village. She’s determined to break the cycle of empty promises and complacency passed down by the men who came before her.
Fierce and unapologetic, Sara pushes for bold reforms, fighting her most difficult battles on behalf of the village’s girls and women. From teaching teenage girls to ride motorcycles to challenging child marriage to advocating for female land ownership, she openly defies patriarchal norms. But when her efforts spark backlash and accusations about her motives, Sara must confront not only her critics – but also her own sense of identity.
“The issues in Cutting Through Rocks, gender equity, identity, bodily autonomy, remain urgent, not only in Iran but everywhere,” said Khaki in a statement. “In the U.S, debates around abortion and women’s rights echo Sara’s battles with systemic control over her identity. Her story resonates across borders.”
Watch the official trailer for Cutting Through Rocks, above.
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