Atlanta Jewish Film Festival: Tatami

In this searing political sports thriller, a female Iranian judo champion and her coach face a harrowing ultimatum in a championship match against an Israeli opponent. Set during the Judo World Championships in Tbilisi, Georgia, rising star Leila (Arienne Mandi) is on the brink of victory when the Iranian regime intervenes, ordering her to forfeit to avoid a potentially humiliating loss. Her coach, Maryam (Amir Ebrahimi), joins her in an agonizing decision: withdraw under false pretenses to protect family in Iran or risk everything and defy the regime. This groundbreaking first-ever collaboration between Israeli and Iranian co-directors pairs stark black-and-white visuals with kinetic camerawork to amplify the adrenaline of competition and expose authoritarian rule.