Absence of Me

“Absence of Me” tells the story of Esha Sadr, a renowned Iranian interdisciplinary artist living in exile in the United States. While on vacation in California in 2019, she received a call from Iran that changed her life: “Don’t come back.” Her art had drawn the ire of Iranian authorities. Now, Esha is determined to fight back. She uses her art to not only process the trauma of being estranged from her homeland, but to encourage freedom for all Iranians. “Absence of Me” follows Esha’s most intimate work as she transforms her clothing into moving pieces that symbolize her memories with her loved ones back home, as well as her new life in the US, cultivating a new vision for what it means to be Iranian. With the support of her partner Ramin Etemadi, Esha uses her art to break down the barriers placed in front of her and develop a new voice.

Screens live on Saturday, Dec. 7

Q&A with filmmakers to follow

Filmmakers

Neha Sati is an emerging filmmaker, bringing a fresh perspective to documentary storytelling. Her debut film, “Absence of Me,” grew out of a deep interest in how women endure intense cultural challenges to navigate their past and shape their futures.

Neha’s journey into this project began with conversations with various Iranian women, but it was Esha Sadr, an Iranian artist in exile in the United States, who truly captivated her. Esha’s story—marked by a longing for her homeland and a strained relationship with a government that will never allow her safe return—struck a powerful chord with Neha. Drawn to Esha’s unique personality and her refusal to be boxed into any political or social category, Neha crafted “Absence of Me” to highlight the complexities of the Iranian diaspora’s experience.

The film explores the emotional toll of exile and confronting the fears that many Iranians in the U.S. live with daily. Coming from a background in health research, Neha brings a meticulous and compassionate approach to her filmmaking. “Absence of Me” reflects Neha’s dedication to giving a voice to those who are often overlooked in mainstream narratives, focusing on stories that provoke thought and foster understanding in a divided world.

Email: ns3788@columbia.edu

Refael Kubersky is an investigative journalist and graduate of Columbia University’s School of Journalism. He will be starting a new position as a reporting fellow at Frontline this Fall. In 2024, Refael released his first documentary, “Allies Left Behind,” which focuses on Afghan journalists, women's rights activists, and military personnel who are stuck in limbo as they await visa processing to the US. His film is now available for streaming on Tubi and was featured on Voice of America’s Dari segment. He was recently named a Pulitzer graduate fellow, where he is pursuing a story about the non-human primate trade from Mauritius. Refael previously worked at the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, where he assisted with investigations into US funding for reconstruction programs in Afghanistan. Refael obtained an MS degree in international relations from Georgetown’s School of Foreign Service, and earned a CASA Fellowship to study Arabic and Middle Eastern studies at the American University of Cairo in 2020.

Email: rk3290@columbia.edu