XYZ boards Babak Anvari's Tehran-set horror

Farsi-language horror film Under the Shadow, written and directed by BAFTA-nominated Babak Anvari (Two & Two), has begun shooting in Amman, Jordan.

Set in post-revolution Tehran, during the Iran-Iraq war, the film a follows a young mother who remains with her six-year-old daughter when others are fleeing local fighting.

The mother soon begins to believe an unexploded missile has carried evil spirits into her home and possessed her daughter.

The film is produced and financed by London-based Wigwam Films, and is supported by the Doha Film Institute, Creativity Capital and MENA Film.

Narges Rashidi (Æon Flux) leads the cast, with Bobby Naderi (Argo) and Ray Haratian (Argo, A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night) also set to appear.

Producers for Wigwam are Lucan Toh, Emily Leo, and Oliver Roskill with Donall McCusker on board as co-producer.

XYZ Films is handling North American sales.

Todd Brown, head of international acquisitions at XYZ Films described the film as “a unique film that is first and foremost incredibly frightening. It also offers a thoughtful insight into the political realities of a part of the world that has largely remained hidden.”

“Under The Shadow will both terrify audiences and provoke conversation on some hugely important topics,” he added. “It’s a gem in the making and Babak is clearly the person to make it.”

Wigwam’s previous features include Before I Disappear, which won the 2014 SXSW Audience Award, and Sam Hoare’s Having You.