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Hoda Taheri and Boris Hadžija's debut feature to premiere at Venice Days

The film blends autobiography and fiction to examine identity, family, and bureaucracy through the story of an expecting couple.

The short version

  • Hoda Taheri and Boris Hadžija will premiere their debut feature film, "I Plant My Hand in the Garden," at the Venice Days competition in September 2026.
  • The movie follows an Iranian refugee living in Berlin and a queer Serbian man who decide to marry while expecting a child, drawing on real-life elements and family members in the cast.
  • Sales agent Square Eyes is managing world sales for the international co-production ahead of its festival debut.

Key facts

  • "I Plant My Hand in the Garden" will hold its world premiere on September 3, 2026, within the Venice Days competition at the Venice Film Festival.[The Hollywood Reporter]
  • The film is co-written, co-directed by, and stars Hoda Taheri and Boris Hadžija, marking their feature-length directorial debut.[The Hollywood Reporter]
  • The cast includes members of the filmmakers' real-life families, such as Branka Hadžija and Jahandokht Taheri, alongside actor Hadi Khanjanpour.[The Hollywood Reporter]
  • The project is an international co-production involving production companies from Germany, Serbia, and the United States.[The Hollywood Reporter]

Sources