
MR. VALI
آقا ولی
Documentary
Director: Mahnaz Mohammadi
Script: Mahnaz Mohammadi
Image: Saeeid Keshavarz
Sound: Ali Alavi
Sound design: Ensieh Maleki
Executive producer: Ali Gitinavard
Color collection: Reza Teymori
Distribution: Overlap Films
Available on DCP – Video – DVD
Synopsis:
Mr. Vali grew up with drugs. That’s all he knows. His wife from an arranged marriage patiently waited for him to find his way. Now Mr. Vali shows the path to others.
Links: Allociné – UniFrance – IMDB
Year: 2017
Language: Persian
(Subtitle: English, French, German)
Genre: Drama – Fiction
Duration: 60 min
Shooting Format: Digital
Aspect Ratio: 16:9
Country of Production: Iran
Watch the trailer
Read the director’s statement
With 2.8% of the population addicted to drugs, Iran is the number one drug-consuming nation in the world. 40% of all prisoners are serving time for drug-related offenses.
I served 7 years in prison for my documentary films and human and women’s rights activities. After being released, I decided to change the type of subjects of my documentaries. I realized that in order to have a goal of creating a better society, I could not expect anything from the government, especially since they were responsible for the importing and distribution of drugs in Iran.
I found that Vali, the star of my film, was an example of someone who was working toward bettering our society. Even though the government was closing down anything that had to do with NA, Vali continued by holding meetings at his home or out in the countryside. He had been able to overcome his 17 years of addiction and was now, without any assistance, helping others to quit, and he was working full time cleaning houses and gardening.
I present this film to my people as an invitation for them to take part in creating a better society through such selfless acts. Everyone will benefit if we all take part in positive activities.
Director
MAHNAZ MOHAMMADI

Biography
Born in 1975, Mahnaz Mohammadi is a filmmaker, actress, and Iranian women’s rights activist. She has written and directed films since 2003, namely «Women without Shadows» and «Travelogue», shown and awarded in several international film festivals.
Mahnaz Mohammadi was arrested and imprisoned several times, along with many others, such as the filmmaker Jafar Panahi. Sentenced to five years of prison, she was released on bail, but the Iranian authorities have constantly refused her permission to leave the country, namely when she was invited to Cannes for the presentation of Ephemeral Weddings, a feature film by Reza Serkanian, in which she plays the main role.
At the same occasion, during the 64th Cannes Film Festival, Costa-Gavras reads a letter from Mahnaz Mohammadi sent from Tehran: “I am a woman, I am a filmmaker, two sufficient reasons to be guilty in this country.”
Filmography
As director:
2026 – Roya, feature film (premiered in Berlinale International Film Festival)
2019 – Son-Mother, feature film
2017 – Mr. Vali, Documentary
2006 – Travelogue, Documentary
2003 – Women Without Shadow, Documentary
Actress:
2011 – Ephemeral Wedding, a feature film by Reza Serkanian. Actress.