Lovers Sleep Alone

Lovers Sleep Alone

Director: Massih Parsaei
Country: Germany

German Premiere
2026 | 87 min. | Arabic, German, Hungarian, Persian, Polish
Subtitles: German, English

Cast_ Pooyesh Frozandeh, Ava Darvishi, Marcel Kohler, Wolfgang Wobéto Screenplay_ Massih Parsaei, Hanna Thomschke Camera_ Jakob Reinhardt Producer_ Carla Buchal, Florian Schewe Rights_ Film Five GmbH

Sleepless in Berlin. A young man from Iran searching for a life in exile that was never waiting for him. A powerful film of great contemporary relevance.

Years ago, Iman left his native Iran and cut ties with his family. Now he’s 33 and living in Berlin. A profound loneliness shapes his life. Day and night, he works two different jobs: caring for an elderly man and at a truck wash. He is needed, yet remains invisible. His only relationship is an affair with André. When his cousin, whom he barely knows, comes to visit, she briefly disrupts Iman’s routine. Their shared cultural heritage and experiences awaken something in him.

›Lovers Sleep Alone‹ is a sensitive film about what it means to be foreign and the longing for connection. Massih Parsaei portrays his protagonist without needing to explain him. Instead, we accompany Iman: across bridges, through the night, passing other people. Will he manage to find his place?

Director

Massih Parsaei studied at the Konrad Wolf Film University of Babelsberg. ›Lovers Sleep Alone‹ is his feature debut, which he developed at the IFFMH’s Cutting Edge Talent Camp emerging-talent program, among others. The film had its world premiere at the 74th San Sebastián Film Festival and now returns to the IFFMH in the International Competition.

Screenings