To Stay is a rare and intimate documentary by Mani Haghighi, filmed in the aftermath of Mohammad Khatami’s 1997 presidential win but unseen for nearly three decades. Shot by the legendary Kaveh Golestan and edited years later by Bahman Kiarostami, the film is a quiet yet powerful reflection on war, art, and presence.

Having missed the final days of the Iran–Iraq war while abroad, Haghighi revisits this absence by interviewing a group of prominent Iranian painters who lived through the missile strikes in Tehran. Through their personal recollections and reflections, the film becomes a collective portrait of resilience, artistic commitment, and the emotional landscapes of a city under siege.

Premiering publicly for the first time nearly 30 years after it was filmed, To Stay serves as both a tribute to the memory of Parvaneh Etemadi and a testament to the artists who chose to remain.

Featuring: Parvaneh Etemadi, Farideh Lashai, Sheyda Tameemi, Bahram Dabiri, Gholamhossein Nami, Manouchehr Mo’tabar, Mehdi Sahab