A Good Day Will Come

A GOOD DAY WILL COME was inspired by the tragic story of Navid Afkari, an Iranian wrestler unjustly executed in 2020 during a period of widespread unrest and human rights abuses in Iran. Born just months apart, Navid and I were shaped by the same country but ultimately led very different lives after I moved to Canada—where I found the freedom to express myself, in stark contrast to an environment where dissent can come at the cost of one’s life.

I recognize the privilege of living in a free society and feel a deep responsibility to use my voice for those who cannot. I see this project as my duty—akin to mandatory military service in Iran—a way of serving my country from afar. While the film began as a direct response to Navid’s story, it gradually evolved into a broader portrait of a society struggling for its soul.

The January massacres of this past year, following years of unrest sparked by Mahsa Amini and the Woman, Life, Freedom movement, have made the film’s questions more urgent than ever. In the shadow of war and deepening instability, these are not isolated events, but part of a long and unresolved fight for dignity and self-determination. The recent execution of another young wrestler, Saleh Mohammadi, just before Nowruz, is a devastating reminder that this cycle is ongoing.

Having lived half my life in Iran and half in Canada, I feel compelled to bridge these worlds and amplify voices too often silenced. Through this film, I aim to honor the resilience of the Iranian people—distinguishing them from the systems that oppress them—and to foster empathy, awareness, and hope that, one day, A GOOD DAY WILL COME.

Director. Amir Zargara

Amir Zargara is an award-winning Iranian-Canadian (BIPOC) writer and director, whose unique perspective is shaped by the cultural mosaic of Iran and Canada. His journey, characterized by the resilience of an immigrant and the challenges of living with a stutter, deeply influences his approach to filmmaking. An alumnus of prestigious programs at Berlinale, TIFF, Busan, Zurich, and Reykjavik, he explores the moral complexities individuals face in his films. His short film A GOOD DAY WILL COME qualified for the Oscars and received over 70 awards and mentions across more than 100 film festivals worldwide.