"Tatami": A Covert Collaboration - Iranian and Israeli Filmmakers Break Boundaries in Venice

The production of "Tatami," a film co-directed by Iranian and Israeli filmmakers, was shrouded in secrecy to avoid potential interference from the Iranian government. Directors Zar Amir Ebrahimi and Guy Nattiv revealed that they had to take significant precautions to ensure the safety of the project, which had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival and received a standing ovation.

The film "Tatami" is a tense thriller set during a world judo championship. It unfolds over the course of a single day of competition, focusing on an Iranian judoka champion (portrayed by Farsi-speaking US actress Arienne Mandi) who is instructed to feign injury to avoid facing an Israeli competitor.

To shoot the movie, Amir Ebrahimi and Nattiv chose to film in Georgia, a country that is easily accessible for Iranians. However, they took extreme measures to keep the project discreet. They stayed in separate hotels, communicated in English, and did not reveal the politically charged nature of their film.

"We were undercover. We knew it was a dangerous thing," said Nattiv, whose previous film, "Golda," premiered at the Berlin Film Festival earlier that year. It's worth noting that Iran does not recognize Israel's right to exist and has banned its athletes from competing against Israelis in various sports.

The inspiration for "Tatami" came from a real incident in which the International Judo Federation banned Iran for four years in 2021 due to pressure on one of its fighters not to compete against an Israeli opponent.

Amir Ebrahimi, who is also an award-winning actress and plays a role in the film as the judoka's increasingly terrified trainer, had fled Iran in 2008 out of fear of imprisonment and punishment after a private video of her was leaked. She admitted that she had to carefully consider the potential consequences before accepting Nattiv's offer to work on the film.

"What I have learned about the Iranian government is that as long as you are afraid, they can arrest you, they can kill you, they can make trouble around you. But as long as you are not afraid … it is going to be fine," she said.

The production of "Tatami" serves as a testament to the challenges and risks associated with creating art that touches upon sensitive political and cultural issues, especially in a context where governments may seek to suppress dissent or dissenting narratives.