| Foreigner | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Ava Maria Safai |
| Written by | Ava Maria Safai |
| Produced by | Ava Maria Safai |
| Starring | Rose Dehgan Chloë MacLeod Maryam Sadeghi Ashkan Nejati Talisa Mae Stewart Victoria Wardell |
| Cinematography | Saarthak Taneja |
| Edited by | Ava Maria Safai |
| Music by | Finka Wood |
Production companies | Saffron Blonde Productions The Harlequin Theatre Society Naltobel Productions |
Release date |
|
| Country | Canada |
| Languages | English Persian |
Foreigner is a 2025 Canadian horror-drama film written and directed by Ava Maria Safai in her feature debut. [1] Described as Mean Girls meets The Exorcist in its blend of comedy, body horror and social commentary, the film stars Rose Dehgan as Yasamin Karimi, a teenage Iranian immigrant in 2004 who tries to fit in with the popular crowd by dyeing her hair blonde, only to unleash a demon tied to her cultural identity. [2]
In 2005, Yasamin Karimi, a 15-year-old Iranian girl, has just immigrated to a small town in British Columbia. Eager to belong, she follows the lead of the school’s queen bee Rachel Stanford, changing her hair, her voice, and her behaviour in an effort to become the perfect Canadian teen. But each step she takes away from her roots awakens something ancient and sinister.
The film explores assimilation, cultural erasure, intergenerational trauma, and belonging, using horror as a metaphor for the psychological effects of denying one's roots. The supernatural force functions as a personification of internalized shame and lost identity, rooted in Yasamin’s Iranian heritage. [3]
Foreigner was produced by Saffron Blonde Productions in partnership with The Harlequin Theatre Society and Naltobel Productions, with support from Telefilm Canada’s Talent to Watch program. [4]
The film was shot in Vancouver, British Columbia in August 2024. [5]
Filming took place over 17 days, with 2 additional days of pick-ups.
The film premiered on July 31, 2025, at the 29th Fantasia International Film Festival, [6] where it won the Silver Audience award for Best Canadian Film. [7] It later had its international premiere at the Cineplex Odeon Luxe in London for FrightFest.
The film has been acquired for commercial distribution by Raven Banner Entertainment. [8]
The film is also set to play at the 2025 Vancouver International Film Festival.
Andrew Mack of Screen Anarchy wrote that "the level and intensity of the horror elements in this film are admittedly mild in comparison to the genre’s contemporaries, but it is perfect for its target audience, the generation following in Ava Maria Safai’s footsteps. In a way, Safai has taken it upon herself to be one of their guides, to share their experiences as a first-generation Iranian-Canadian, hopefully keep the ones after her clear of trouble, corporally and spiritually." [1]
For The Hollywood News, Kat Hughes wrote that "as well as capturing teen ‘friendships’, Ava Maria Safai nails the 2004 time period, populating the screen with plenty of familiar trinkets and experiences from that era, without knocking the audience over the head with it. This allows even those who didn’t live through the early noughties to connect to the story without lots of quirkily placed references to distract them." [2]
A.J. Friar of Elements of Madness wrote that "ultimately, Foreigner is a fresh, fearless, and highly rewatchable film. It’s a prime example of how horror can be used to tell deeply personal and culturally specific stories while still being entertaining, stylish, and fun. Ava Maria Safai is clearly a filmmaker to watch, and this film marks an exciting new entry into the canon of “bubblegum horror” with brains and heart. It’s another must-see selection from this year’s Fantasia lineup and one that’s sure to resonate with anyone who’s ever struggled to find where they belong." [3]
| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fantasia International Film Festival | August 7, 2025 | Silver Audience Award | Foreigner | Won | [7] |
| Director's Guild of Canada | 2025 | Jean-Marc Vallée DGC Discovery Award | Pending | [9] |