*** Cinecenta Passes not accepted for VFF Films***

70-year-old Mahin is a lonely widow living in Tehran. With her children living abroad and the restrictive nature of women’s rights in Iran, she has resigned herself to a life of solitude. That is, until she meets Faramarz, and for the first time since her husband’s death, Mahin experiences a spark of excitement and possibility. 

My Favourite Cake, directed by Behtash Sanaeeha and Maryam Moghaddam, offers an intimate and poignant glimpse into contemporary Iran through the lens of a deceptively feminist romance. As filmmakers who have famously had their passports confiscated, Sanaeeha and Moghaddam have crafted a bold, unapologetic film that dares to explore the life of a modern woman seeking joy and love in a society that often silences her. 

Despite its nuanced political backdrop, My Favourite Cake never loses sight of its deeply human core. The tender chemistry between leads Esmail Mehrabi and Lily Farhadpour, paired with Mohammad Haddadi’s lush cinematography, elevates the film into a cinematic experience that is both intimate and universally resonant. 

With the romantic tenderness of Before Sunrise and the quiet subversiveness of Jafar Panahi’s work, My Favourite Cake blends these elements into something truly unique—an exploration of desire, aging, and defiance in a conservative society.  – JD