Each year the SDFF shines the spotlight on the cinematic treasures of one particular country. At a time when a number of well-known Iranian directors have been imprisoned or barred from leaving the country by the current government, a focus on Iran seemed especially urgent. Iranian films have been highly celebrated in recent years, with many—including works by Abbas Kiarostami, Jafar Panahi and Majid Majidi—competing for top prizes in the world’s most esteemed festivals and receiving distribution not only overseas but in the United States, arguably the hardest market for foreign fare. We’ve collected 10 of the most current, diverse and thought-provoking films from Iran this year and are delighted that directors will be here with Dog Sweat and Twenty Days That Shook Tehran.