The dark underbelly of Tehran (known to locals as Tehroun) is laid bare in Nader Takmil Homayoun's feature debut.

Ibrahim's racket is begging for money from passers-by for himself and his infant son, but in reality the boy is rented from a mob boss purely to gain pity and cash from strangers. When the boy is kidnapped by a local prostitute, Ibrahim must find him or face the wrath of the local mafia.

Melding Iranian neorealism with the tension and pace of a crime thriller, Tehroun was the recipient of the International Critics' Week Award at the 2009 Venice Film Festival.

“Possesses the naturalism and humanity of a traditional Iranian title but is also a gripping look at the country's capital city, complete with prostitution, child trafficking, drug smuggling, ganglords and pimps.” - Screen International