Screening of 'In the Shadow of the Cypress'

Join us for a special screening of the 2025 Oscar-winning animated short In the Shadow of the Cypress, recipient of the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with visionary filmmakers Shirin Sohani and Hossein Molayemmi, moderated by acclaimed producer Mark Amin. We look forward to seeing you at this powerful event that brings together storytelling, artistry, and cultural dialogue through a deeply human narrative of love, trauma, and hope.
This event is jointly hosted by the USC Persian Academic and Cultural Student Association (PACSA), and the USC Persian Student Organization (PSO), with the generous support of the Farhang Foundation's Iranian Studies Initiative at USC.

Important

• Doors are opened at 4:45 PM and closed at 5:00 PM promptly.
• Admission is free, but tickets are required due to the limited seats.
• If you cannot make it to the event and you have a ticket, please let us know to release it.
• Check-in: Patrons who have registered will need to obtain their free tickets at the theater check-in desk. Any seats remaining a few minutes before showtime will be released to standby patrons. Registration does not guarantee seating for this free event.

Parking

Closest USC parking structures to Cammilleri Hall include:

• Downey Way Structure (Entrance on Vermont Ave & Downey Way OR Entrance through W Jefferson Blvd & McClintock Ave)
• McCarthy Way Structure (Entrance on Figueroa & USC McCarthy Way)
• Royal Street Structure (Entrance through gates on McClintock Ave & W. Jefferson Blvd)

Please allow ample time for parking and walking to Cammilleri Hall (Apple Maps and Google Maps are recommended for walking directions from Parking to Hall.) Additionally, please feel free to utilize the USC Maps Website.

For questions or accessibility accommodations, please contact:

PSO Representative: ekhoshne@usc.edu or PACSA Representative: grafiei@usc.edu

Featured Guests

Hossein Molayemmi: An award-winning animation director, Hossein holds an M.A. from the Tehran University of Art. His acclaimed work includes Run Rostam Run and In the Shadow of the Cypress, which has been recognized at Annecy, Warsaw, and other major festivals. He serves on the boards of ASIFA Iran and the Animation Filmmakers Guild of Iran.

Shirin Sohani: Shirin is an animation director, concept artist, and production manager whose graduation film The Fan won several awards. In the Shadow of the Cypress is her professional directorial debut.

Moderated by Mark Amin: A renowned Iranian-American film producer and director known for his powerful storytelling and global cinematic contributions.

About the Film: A former captain, suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, lives with his daughter in a small coastal home. Though determined to be a caring father, he struggles to connect with her emotionally. Their quiet routine is upended one day by an unforeseen event, whether it will bring hope or hardship remains to be seen.