Working With Kahani
Empty Heaven (Behesht-e Khali in Persian) is a 2026 dark comedy-thriller from Iranian-Canadian director Abdolreza Kahani. The story imagines a scenario of institutional breakdown: a network of Iranian operatives stationed in Canada abruptly finds itself cut off from Tehran, and the stranded agents resolve to sell off a prized piece of military hardware to fund their way out. Running 87 minutes and performed in Persian, the film was shot across several Canadian cities.
This was my second time working with Kahani, who is a brilliant filmmaker and inspiring figure for me. This film was made with his new approach towards filmmaking that he calls solo-cinema. In August 2026, this feature film will be premiered at the Edinburgh International Film Festival.