General Information
Duration: 38 min 43 sec
Genres: Animation, Docu-Feature, Documentary, Web / N...
Language:
Country: United States
Submitted By: Alexander Kwanje
Festival Rating
Unbreakable Soul is a three-episode docuseries chronicling the journey of Shirin Behzadi, an immigrant woman who started working behind bulletproof glass at a gas station, and ultimately rose through perseverance and resilience to become the CEO of a billion-dollar company.
Born in Iran in 1966, Shirin was just twelve when the 1979 Islamic Revolution upended her world. Witnessing the rising tide of oppression against women, she became an activist, only to face repeated threats and arrests. Forced to flee, she endured isolation and poverty in Turkey yet clung fiercely to her dream of reaching America.
Unbreakable Soul is more than one woman’s story—it is a testament to faith, courage, and the universal truth that even the harshest trials can become catalysts for growth. Through intimate storytelling, the series reveals how Shirin’s journey speaks to anyone who has ever fought to reclaim hope, rebuild identity, and rise against impossible odds.
Director Biography - Alexander Kwanje
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DirectorsALEXANDER KWANJE
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ProducersMona Firoozeh
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Film TypeAnimation, Docu-Feature, Documentary, Web / New Media
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Genres
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Runtime38 minutes 43 seconds
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Production BudgetUSD
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Country of OriginUnited States
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Country of Filming
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Film Language
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Shooting Format
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Aspect Ratio
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Film ColorColor
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Student ProjectNo
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First-time FilmmakerNo
Director's Biography
Alexander Kwanje was born in 1986 in Iran to a Cameroonian father and an Iranian mother. His passion for filmmaking began at the age of 12 in 1998, when he started experimenting with storytelling by lining up video game demos on his PlayStation. That early spark of creativity led to a lifelong dedication to visual storytelling.
By 15, Alexander was already working as an assistant director on local film projects. At 16, he made his first short film, and by 19, he directed his first professional work—a two-episode documentary. However, due to the limitations of being a Christian in Iran and the country's political and religious climate, he was denied the opportunity to work in the mainstream film industry. During this time, he turned to theater as an outlet for his voice and vision, writing and directing plays that were showcased internationally at festivals in Italy, Germany, France, and Lithuania. In 2015, he was invited to present his work at the Midtown International Theater Festival in New York, marking a new chapter in his creative journey.