That Night is a 2025 American/Iranian documentary film directed by Hoda Sobhani, with story and narration by Neda Naji, who relates her personal experience in an Iranian prison. The film was released on November 14, 2025."New film 'That Night' tells story of woman who survived fire at infamous Iranian prison," November 23, 2025, PBS News Weekend, PBS, retrieved April 2, 2026; also at: "New film tells story of a woman and her fellow prisoners who survived Iran prison fire,", Thirteen.org."'That Night': Documenting the plight of Iranian political prisoners," March/April 2026, Amanpour & Co., CNN, retrieved April 2, 2026; transcript at "Statement," website: "THAT NIGHT: a Short Documentary Animation film by Hoda Sobhani," retrieved April 2, 2026home page, website: "THAT NIGHT: a Short Documentary Animation film by Hoda Sobhani," retrieved April 2, 2026 Production Director/producer Hoda Sobhani, a filmmaker, a friend of Naji, and a member of the Iranian diaspora, said she made the film to "amplify" the voices of the victims of the Iranian regime, especially the prisoners of Evin Prison.
Citing "dangers posed by the repressive Iranian regime," Sobhani decided that creating a traditional documentary would be impossible -- instead choosing animation to present those experiences "creatively and safely," and make the focus on the "human" aspect of the story, rather than abstract headlines and statistics."That Night: World Premiere", in Shorts: She Stories, Doc NYC, retrieved April 2, 2026
Sobhani said her goal was to "foster empathy and [to] inspire" -- among "the Iranian diaspora" and throughout "the international community" -- "recognition" for "the sacrifices made [by protesters] for freedom and human rights," hoping the film would "galvanize support and encourage action" that would result in "a more just and free society."
Plot
In Iran, during the 2022 "Woman, Life, Freedom" movement, thousands of Iranians were imprisoned, tortured, and/or killed by the authorities and their surrogates. Among the imprisoned was Neda Naji, an Iranian woman who was held in Evin Prison in Teheran. A fatal fire erupted at the prison, on the night of October 15, 2022, while Naji was there. She survived, and was eventually released from the prison, later leaving Iran. The animated film is her prisoner's-view account of the event and surrounding events, detailing what she and her fellow prisoners endured, and how they survived."53rd Athens International Film + Video Festival" April 13-19, 2026, athensfilmfest.org, retrieved April 2, 2026
Recognition and reception That Night has been selected for presentation at various film festivals, including: 41st Santa Barbara International Film Festival"41st Santa Barbara International Film Festival" retrieved April 2, 2026 Annecy International Animation Film Festival"Annecy International Animation Film Festival", retrieved April 2, 2026 "She Stories" film festival, DOC NYC"DOC NYC Unveils 16th Annual Film Lineup," Oct 9, 2025, Variety retrieved April 2, 2026 53rd Athens International Film + Video Festival Denver Film Festival's "Women+Film Festival" program"More..." button, under "Event Details," in "Women+Film Festival" ("April 24, 2026... - April 26, 2026") on Yellow Scene event site, retrieved April 2, 2026; additional information at:
Journalist-commentator Christiane Amanpour, in her television segment about the film, interviewing the director, described the film as "powerful".
In reviewing the film, the Italian newspaper La Voce described it as "not just a film, [but] an archive of living memory... a complaint that transcends borders," and especially "an urgent record for the world.""Las voces que el régimen iraní quisiera apagar," ("The voices that the Iranian regime wanted to extinguish,") November 17, 2025, La Voce, retrieved April 2, 2026
References
External links official website: "THAT NIGHT: a Short Documentary Animation film by Hoda Sobhani"
That Night at MUBI That Night: preview video, at Moviefone