Sony Pictures Classics Acquires Cannes’ Documentary Prizewinner ‘Rehearsals for a Revolution’

Sony Pictures Classics has acquired all rights in North and Latin America, Asia (except Japan), New Zealand, Turkey, Portugal and worldwide airlines to “Rehearsals for a Revolution,” which won the best documentary prize at Cannes Film Festival, L’Oeil d’Or.

The film, which premiered in the Special Screenings section, is the deeply personal debut feature from Pegah Ahangarani.

Ahangarani sketches her life story through five portraits of relatives and mentors. Drawing from personal archives, home videos, street protests footage, newspapers and recorded voices, she retraces more than 40 years of Iran’s history. From the early days of 1979, until the war that began in 2026, she pieces together intimate and collective memories, forming the portrait of a country shaped by political repression and in constant hope for a revolution.

Variety‘s review states, “Rich in political and cultural resonance as well as contemporary relevance, the documentary essay ‘Rehearsals for a Revolution’ marks a promising feature debut for Iranian actress-turned-helmer Pegah Ahangarani. Her compelling personal perspective on 40-plus years of post-Revolutionary Iran provides a chronicle of great hopes and even greater disappointments.”

The film is written and directed by Ahangarani and edited by Arash Ashtiani, with co-writers Ehsan Abdipour, Amir Ahmadi Arian, Arash Ashtiani and Majed Neisi.

The producers are Kaveh Farnam for Czech Republic’s Media Nest and Adrià Monés for Spain’s Fasten Films. The co-producers are Parnian Farnam, Ahangarani and Arash Ashtiani. Executive producers are Enric Bach and Sergi Moreno.

The deal was negotiated between Sony Pictures Classics and The Party Film Sales on behalf of the filmmakers.