DreamLab Takes World Sales on Iranian Satire 'Head to Head' Ahead of TIFF World Premiere
Paris-based sales agent DreamLab Films has boarded worldwide rights to 'Head to Head' (Sar beh Sar), a satirical Iranian feature set to make its world premiere at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival (Deadline). The deal means DreamLab will represent the film to distributors and buyers across all territories — the first step in getting it onto screens beyond the festival circuit.
The film is the debut feature of Ghasideh Golmakani, who wrote, directed and produced it. An Iran-Germany co-production, it runs 80 minutes in Persian (TIFF). Golmakani holds a PhD from the Sorbonne on Iranian women filmmakers before and after the Revolution, and she has said the project grew out of years of reflecting on the place of women in Iranian cinema (Deadline).
The premise carries the bite of its title. Set in contemporary Iran, the story follows an acclaimed female writer-director who requires her male cast members to wear skirts and headscarves for her latest film — subjecting them to the strict dress rules that women in Iran must navigate every day (Deadline). Golmakani has described the film as an invitation to male colleagues to reflect on what women endure simply to continue existing on the cinema screen (Deadline).
The cast includes Mehrnoosh Satari, Saeed Naderi, Ebrahim Azizi, Amir Hajimohammadi, Elaheh Farazmand and Lili Farhadpour. Behind the camera, the creative team spans cinematographer Amin Jafari, sound designer Alireza Alavian, production designer Melody Esmaeili and composer Yoones Eskandari. David M. Lorenz serves as associate producer and Saba M. Rezaei as executive producer (Deadline).
TIFF is one of the key festival marketplaces where sales agents and distributors negotiate which films reach cinemas — a world premiere there puts a title in front of buyers from across the globe. The festival's official programme lists the film as a world premiere, with a poster depicting two people inside a white van at sunset (TIFF).
For a first-time feature filmmaker, having a sales agent in place before the premiere is a meaningful step. It means the film arrives at TIFF with its international distribution already mapped out, rather than hunting for a deal on the ground. Whether 'Head to Head' lands distribution in major markets will depend on how audiences and buyers respond when the lights go down in Toronto.
