My guests today are director Julia Elihu, screenwriter and lead actress Ava Lalezarzadeh and producer Aaron Lemie and their Oscar-qualified short film IN THE GARDEN OF TULIPS. Ladies and gentlemen, the pulsating drama IN THE GARDEN OF TULIPS is set on a beautiful spring day in 1988 on the looming backdrop of the Iran-Iraq war. The film follows sixteen year old Caroline as she takes her last car journey with her father to the Iranian countryside, where a new future awaits her. This beautiful, tension-filled short has qualified for the 2025 Oscars for winning “Best Live Action Short Film” at the St. Louis International Film Festival. The story is based on Ava Lalezarzadeh mother’s own journey. It’s a story that resonated deeply with those who have endured religious persecution. IN THE GARDEN OF TULIPS is a beautiful film. The cinematography, a mixture of 16mm film and digital which blend so very well.  The acting is stellar with great and deep emotion and you feel every scene and every moment. But the importance of this film is the story of a father and daughter. This compelling, emotional and moving film is a story of the utmost importance of millions around the world who are not able to worship freely. Religious persecution is real and even today governments are threatened by those who worship a God more powerful than they. We need more films and stories like this one to keep moving humanity forward. #oscars #academyawards #shortfilms #garden #tulips #filmdirector #filmproducer #screenwriter #filmmakers #filmmaking #cinema #cinematography #filmbreakdown #filmreview