Participants assigned to a specific role in a role-playing game embark on a fictional train journey to
an island, with the goal of winning a cash prize, but the competition soon develops into a microcosm
of the limitations they experience in their real lives.
About the Director
Amirali Navaee is an Iranian filmmaker and multidisciplinary artist whose work
explores systems of control, resistance, and human resilience. After being
expelled from film school in Iran, he forged an independent artistic path across
cinema, dance, choreography, and video art. His debut feature film, Sunshine
Express, premiered in the Tiger Competition at the International Film Festival
Rotterdam and was subsequently presented at festivals including the Santa
Barbara International Film Festival, SXSW London, and Fantaspoa. Combining
poetic imagery with incisive social critique, Navaee’s work has received several
international awards, including Best Feature at the Oslo Film Festival and Best
Fiction Feature at El Ojo Cojo International Film Festival in Madrid.
Festivals and Awards
International Film Festival Rotterdam (2025)
• Nominated for Golden Tiger
Oslo Film Festival (2025)
• Winner – Best Film
El Ojo Cojo International Film Festival, Madrid
• Winner – Best Fiction Feature
South by Southwest (SXSW London) (2025)
• Official Selection
Santa Barbara International Film Festival (2026)
• Official Selection
Fantaspoa (2026)
• Official Selection