The film tracks the plight of two DJs from Tehran.

A new electronic music documentary, Raving Iran, is set to lift the lid on Tehran’s underground techno scene.

Directed by German filmmaker Susanne Regina Meures, the film exposes the struggles, dangers and persecution faced by DJs Anoosh and Arash who, “tired of hiding from the police and their stagnating career, organize one last manic techno rave under dangerous circumstances in the desert.”

“Back in Tehran they try their luck selling their illegally printed music album without permission,” reads the synopsis. “When Anoosh is arrested, there seems to be no hope left. But then they receive a phone call from the biggest techno festival in the world. Once landed in Switzerland, the haze of the instant euphoria evaporates quickly when the seriousness of the situation starts to dawn on them.”

Western music is banned from state-run radio and TV in Iran. In 2014, six Iranian youths were arrested for appearing in a viral video dancing to Pharrell’s ‘Happy’ and sentenced to jail time and 91 lashes each.

The film has no cinema release dates as yet although it’s being toured internationally at a number of film festivals. See festival dates below and check the documentary’s website for more info.

April 15-24 – Vision du Reel, Nyon

April 28 – May 8 – Hot Docs, Toronto

May 5-15 – DOK.fest, Munich

May 12-18 – Bel Docs, Belgrade

May 26-June 1 – Iranian Film Festival, Zurich