Last Swim, directed by Sasha Nathwani, is a film centered around Ziba, a British-Iranian teenager played by Deba Hekmat. Ziba is an ambitious and brainy teenager from London, who takes great pride in her Iranian roots. On the day she receives her A-level results, she leads her friends through an eventful journey across the city, with plans to witness a rare astronomical event. However, beneath the joyful surface, Ziba is secretly struggling to hold onto her usual optimism, as she grapples with personal fears and hidden secrets. As the day turns into night, she must confront the irreversible decision she has set for the end of this final day of untainted adolescence.
The movie is set to have its domestic premiere at the London Film Festival in October, with a theatrical release scheduled for early 2025. This film is a celebration of youth and serves as a love letter to London. It tells a coming-of-age story from the perspective of a British-Iranian girl, taking place across London on a hot summer’s day. The soundtrack also features songs by the Iranian singer Koroush Yaghmaei, adding a rich cultural layer to this vibrant narrative.
During the 74th Berlinale, Last Swim won a Crystal Bear for the Best Film. The jury described the film as “a story about the beauty of life and of things coming to an end. A film that does not shy away from portraying the messy and consuming feelings that can arise when you know your dreams may not be fulfilled. However, it also invites the viewer into the joyful and lively world of a teenager and her friends as they celebrate their youth.”