Director: Mahdi Ravesh

Cast: Arshia Zarrin, Fatemeh Kalantari, Koorosh Rakhshande, Sepideh Sharifan, Vajiheh Larijani

Matt is a 2017 Iranian short film directed by Mahdi Ravesh, running 33 minutes. The title borrows from the chess term for checkmate, hinting at a story where human choices and relationships spiral toward outcomes that nobody planned or predicted.

What is Matt about?

Two people cross paths under circumstances that feel ordinary at first glance. As their connection deepens, both characters discover that the direction their bond takes refuses to follow the course either of them imagined. Ravesh frames the story around the quiet gap between what people expect from a relationship and where that relationship ultimately leads them — a gap that quietly widens until neither character can ignore it. The film holds its cards close, letting tension build through restrained performances and careful framing rather than dramatic confrontation.

Cast & crew

Mahdi Ravesh directs this compact drama with a measured hand. The cast includes Arshia Zarrin and Fatemeh Kalantari in the central roles, supported by Rakhshande, Sepideh Sharifan, and Vajiheh Larijani. The ensemble keeps the emotional register low-key throughout, letting silence and glance do the heavy lifting rather than overt declaration.

Context & significance

Short-form Iranian cinema has a rich tradition of exploring intimate human dynamics within tight runtimes — a tradition reaching back through decades of festival-circuit work that found global audiences. Matt sits within that lineage, using a brief encounter as the lens for a broader meditation on fate and interpersonal expectation. For diaspora viewers, such stories resonate because they reflect the relational textures of Iranian life — the unspoken weight between people, the way obligation and feeling quietly compete. A 33-minute runtime makes it an accessible entry point for anyone curious about contemporary Persian short film.

Where & how to watch

Matt is available on K-Time with original Persian audio. Watch it on your browser, Android TV, or phone with no VPN and no geo-blocking — subscribe and cancel anytime. No extra download needed to start watching right away.