Corruption in modern Iran comes under fire in The Hunter, a neo-realist drama that veers into thriller territory.

In the icy woods outside of Tehran, security guard Ali lets off steam by hunting wild animals. Working night shift means he doesn't see much of his family - but when his wife is killed during a shoot-out between police and dissidents, and his six-year-old daughter goes missing, Ali's razor-edge existence is set to reach a tipping point, and his hunting skills will be put to another use.

Featuring the filmmaker Rafi Pitts (It's Winter, MIFF 2006) in the lead role as the laconic Ali, The Hunter is about a man jaded by authority and the world, trying to take back control any way he can.