Woman Life Freedom Edinburgh

Cutting Through Rocks

by Sara Khaki & Mohammadreza Eyni

In celebration of International Women’s Day, we invite you to a special screening of an extraordinary tale, followed by a panel discussion with Dr Zahra Khosroshahi, Lecturer in Film and Television Studies at University of Glasgow.

Fri 6 Mar 2026

Doors 6:30 PM

Film starts at 7:00 PM- 9:30 PM

 Fruitmarket, EH1 1DF

2025 | 95 min. IranLanguages: Farsi, Azeri Turkish

Sara Shahverdi — a divorced, motorcycle-riding former midwife — is an unlikely leader in her conservative northwestern Iranian village. As the first woman ever elected to the local council, she’s determined to break the cycle of empty promises and complacency passed down by the men who came before her.

Fierce and unapologetic, Sara pushes for bold reforms, fighting her most difficult battles on behalf of the village’s girls and women. From teaching teenage girls to ride motorcycles, to challenging child marriage, to advocating for female land ownership, she openly defies patriarchal norms. But when her efforts spark backlash and accusations about her motives, Sara must confront not only her critics – but also her own sense of identity.

This International Women’s Day, take the streets with us in Edinburgh.

On March 8th, we’re coming together to march for women’s rights, solidarity and collective power.

11:30–12:30: Pre-march seminar at Southside Community Centre Hall

13:00: March assembly at Mercat Cross, High Street

We march to the Scottish Parliament, followed by post-march speeches and performances.

International Women’s Day is about about resistance, community, and building a future free from racism, sexism and hate.

You are invited to the unveiling of Azadi and Solidarity, a mural to honour the resilience of the Iranian people.

Date/time: Sunday 1st March, 1pm-2pm

Location: outside St John’s Church, Edinburgh EH2 4BJ

We gather in hope for freedom, in memory of lives lost, and in solidarity.

In January 2026, Iranians took to the streets in one of the largest nationwide uprisings in decades, demanding dignity, freedom, and an end to repression. The regime responded with an unprecedented and deadly crackdown, with thousands of civilians killed during the mass protests. They used lethal force, internet blackouts, and mass arrests to silence activists and students.

Today, a powerful mural on Edinburgh’s Princes Street stands as a tribute to the courage of the Iranian people. At its centre rises Azadi Tower, Tehran’s iconic Square of Freedom, surrounded by red tulips, symbolising the young lives lost in the struggle for liberty.

The mural captures a nation’s resilience and a shared hope for a brighter, democratic, and free Iran.

Fruitmarket Gallery Programme

18:45 - Doors Open at Fruitmarket Gallery (Welcome & Introduction)

19:15 - 21:30 - Film Screening & Discussion

21:30 - 22:30 - Night March from Fruitmarket Gallery

Jina is the symbol of the struggle to reclaim life: the attainment of equality, justice and liberation from oppression. Iran's state femicide of Jina (Mahsa) Amini and the killing of hundreds of martyrs and thousands of wounded and imprisoned, has truly ignited the flame of the Jin Jiyan Azadî revolutionary movement, with women, trans and queer people and other oppressed marginalized groups in its forefront. It crossed borders and has united us together in our fight and resistance.

Saturday 10 Dec 2022

16:00-17:00, St John's Church, Princes Street EH2 4BJ

Vigil for innocent victims in Iran, in front of Woman Life Freedom Mural

Wednesday 30 Nov 2022

15.00-17.00, University of Edinburgh and Heriot-Watt University, Bristo Square

Campus Rally for Iran happening in 200+ universities around the globe