The Iranian short film 'Alfredo Pasta,' written and directed by Leila Noei, has been selected to participate in the 31st edition of the Zaragoza Film Festival (FCZ) in Spain.
The film, produced by Seyed Roham Rasouli, will be screened at this international event scheduled to take place in Zaragoza from November 19th to 28th.
This nine-minute drama, a 2025 production, tells the story of Niloufar, a fourteen-year-old girl from a middle-class family in Iran. She is recovering from a serious illness that no longer restricts her but has prompted her to consciously withdraw from the outside world.
In a family marked by emotional distance—a worried mother and an irritable father—she strives to revive warmth and connection. One quiet day, she prepares a symbolic party for her cat and cooks pasta, making small acts of care in a space that has lost its tenderness. However, as her gestures fade into silence, loneliness plunges her deeper into darkness.
The film features actors such as Mahanna Seyedi, Said Nejati, Sima Hanvakili, Barbod Farshizadeh, and Mohammadreza Aryansadr.
Leila Noei is a filmmaker from Mashhad with a master's degree in media management and experience in cultural journalism. She previously worked for a long time as a writer and editor in the field of art and culture, where her passion for human-centered storytelling, especially stories about children and adolescents, led her to filmmaking. After completing specialized training at the Sorekh Film Club and the Iranian Youth Film Union, she adopted cinema as a means to explore her social, cultural, and emotional issues. Her films reflect a deep interest in daily life, emotional nuances, and the inner world of youth. 'Alfredo Pasta' is her second short film.
The Zaragoza Film Festival, established in 1995, has become a platform for promoting independent, emerging, and auteur cinema, bringing together filmmakers, industry professionals, and film enthusiasts from Spain and other countries. The festival focuses on supporting new talent and encouraging diverse cinematic perspectives through its various competition sections and international programs.



