Official US Trailer for ‘Tatami’ Film Following an Iranian Judo Fighter

Official US Trailer for ‘Tatami’ Film Following an Iranian Judo Fighter

by Alex Billington
May 8, 2025
Source: YouTube

“The entire world is watching you, Leila!” XYZ Films has unveiled an official US trailer for the indie sports drama titled Tatami, which originally premiered at the 2023 Venice Film Festival a few years back where it earned lots of acclaim and great reviews from critics. Finally getting a US release in art house theaters this summer! Midway through the Judo World Championships, Iranian female judo fighter Leila and her coach Maryam receive an ultimatum from the Islamic Republic ordering Leila to fake an injury and lose, lest she be branded a traitor of the state. An intense political thriller described by one of its directors as “a creative statement to the world as thousands of innocent Iranian people are paying with their lives for freedom.” This stars Arienne Mandi, Zar Amir Ebrahimi, Jaime Ray Newman, and Ash Goldeh. Presented in B&W in 4:3 (the Academy ratio) to give it a powerful cinematic feel. This is a damn good trailer – ratchets up the tension as it goes on, setting up an invigorating film about never giving up the fight. This is worth a look.

Here’s the official US trailer (+ new US poster) for Ebrahimi & Nattiv’s Tatami, direct from YouTube:

You can watch the original intl. trailer for Ebrahimi & Nattiv’s Tatami right here for even more footage.

From Venice: “Midway through the Judo World Championships, Iranian female judo fighter Leila and her coach Maryam receive an ultimatum from the Islamic Republic ordering Leila to fake an injury and lose, lest she be branded a traitor of the state. With her own and her family’s freedom at stake, Leila is faced with an impossible choice: comply with the Iranian regime as her coach Maryam implores her to do, or fight on, for the gold. Tatami is the first feature film to be co-directed by an Iranian and an Israeli filmmaker.” Tatami is co-directed by filmmakers Zar Amir Ebrahimi (Iranian actress making her feature directorial debut) & Guy Nattiv (Israeli director of the films Strangers, The Flood, Magic Men, Skin, Golda). The screenplay is co-written by Elham Erfani and Guy Nattiv. Produced by Adi Ezroni, Guy Nattiv, Jaime Ray Newman, and Mandy Tagger. This initially premiered at the 2023 Venice Film Festival a few years ago and already opened in Europe. XYZ Films will debut Tatami in select US theaters starting on June 13th, 2025 coming up soon.

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