The documentary, The Author, is a feature-length documentary that runs over one hour and forty-five minutes. The Author follows two filmmakers, Nima Soofi and Daniel Irias, as they journey to find purpose in the pursuit of happiness.
Although not the first documentary to pursue such a project, The Author stands out for going beyond a single setting. Whereas other similar films focus on a single individual’s life, The Author invites the audience into the lives of people from all walks of life, from the lives of extremists to the average joe.
The Author addresses the big question, “What is happiness?” From the United States to Hong Kong, Daniel and Nima attempt to learn what everyone is looking for. One of their many stops is the deserts of Nevada, where they encounter an almost surreal world in the Burning Man festival that allows everyone to be as free as they could be, celebrating the joys of life.
They also meet a man who finds a new purpose in the sport of boxing after signing with a gym. The gym takes children from the streets headed for a darker path and gives them something better to strive for. Along the journey, learn about the rise of a nightclub, meet a drug addict who is looking for peace, a career-focused man, a transgender woman struggling in the streets of Bangkok, and a rabbi who has dedicated his entire life to his beliefs. Additionally, in Dan and Nima’s journey, they encounter a monk who discusses his spiritual lifestyle and how his parents sent him to pursue the calling.
Despite the different lives each person has gone through in The Author, they all share the same goal of achieving their idea of happiness. The film explores different cultures, meeting, and understanding the impactful journeys and lifestyle that each individual has endured, bringing the human connection to life by breaking down the barriers put up by races, cultures, societies, and even by ourselves with social media.
The Author has already won several awards worldwide, earning the best documentary feature in New York Independent Cinema Awards, Vegas Movie Awards, Hong Kong Indie Film Festival, Docs Without Borders Film Festival, The Impact DOCS Awards, and Great Message International Film Festival, to name a few.
Nima and Daniel first encountered each other in an airport to film separate projects on the same island. The duo started collaborating for more projects, utilizing their backgrounds to bring a balance to the productions. Although they had completed many projects, they both felt something was missing. Nima and Daniel then decided to work on passion projects to give back, including the upcoming award-winning film, The Author.Learn more about The Author Documentary by visiting their official website.
