IN THE BAZAAR OF SEXES Documentary film by Sudabeh Mortezai A 2009, 85 min, colour Farsi with english subtitles www.imbazar-derfilm.at

SYNOPSIS A lonesome middle-aged bachelor, a divorced single mother, and a jovial young mullah are the protagonists of this intimate account of gender relations in . Their stories revolve around the institution of temporary marriage, also called lust- marriage, a Shia practice that allows a man and a woman to legally marry for a fixed period of time ranging from one hour to 99 years. Religiously sanctified prostitution or a loophole for couples to have a relationship within the rigid Islamic laws? Religious dogma meets macho sentimentality meets female realities. A relentlessly honest, eye-opening, and sometimes funny account of Islamic sexual and gender politics.

CREDITS Director: Sudabeh Mortezai Assistant Director: Sepideh Abtahi Cinematography: Arastoo Givi, Majid Gorjian Sound: Farrokh Fadai Editor &Producer: Oliver Neumann Co-Producer: Wolfgang Bergmann Production Manager: Sabine Moser Line Producer Iran: Mojtaba Mirtahmasb Produced by: FreibeuterFilm In Co-Production with: Licht Film (D) und WDR/arte With kind support by: Innovative Film , Filmfonds Wien Austrian Distributor: Poool Film Press: Apomat Büro für Kommunikation

WORLD PREMIERE VIENNALE 2009

DIRECTOR’S BIO: SUDABEH MORTEZAI Born 1968 in Ludwigsburg, , Sudabeh grew up in Tehran and . She received her MA in theater and film studies from the University of Vienna in 1994. She worked as a programmer for film festivals and organized a number of film events as the manager and curator of Filmcasino, an independent arthouse theater in Vienna. After completing UCLA’s certificate program in Film, TV, and Digital Entertainment Media in 2003, Sudabeh worked as an assistant director and production manager and directed and produced several short films before making her feature-length documentary “Children of the Prophet”. 2007 co-founder of FreibeuterFilm

FILMOGRAPHY: (selection) 2006 – Children of the Prophet – documentary, 86 minutes 2009 – In the Bazaar of Sexes documentary, 85 minutes