Documentary Feature
Ali Vs. Ali
Directed by 
Alireza Rofougaran
AFIN 2024 Finalist
- 2024
- 1h 23m
-
Iran - English, Persian
- G
Stills
1 framePart of this film's cast or crew? Let us know to add or correct credits, genres or details. Filmmaker sign-in opens with the claim email at Awards Night, 19 September 2026.
Credits
Written by
Produced by
Cinematography
Music & Sound
Synopsis
Alireza Rofougaran’s childhood dream of meeting Muhammad Ali had long been forgotten, till it sprung back to life following the death of Ali’s former rival, Joe Frazier. The reawakened dream brings back to memory a whole era in which Muhammad Ali had been embedded in Iranian culture as a legend, compared in mythical proportions with National Iranian heroes, a people’s champion; a Pahlevan! Alireza’s personal quest takes him on a journey across the globe to try and meet Muhammad Ali; a documented odyssey, with a delusional twist, depicting the concept of Para-Social interactions…
What makes this one special
- Australian PremiereThe filmmaker tells us this is where it happens
- 5 awards at other festivals17th Cine del Mar · Festival Internacional de Cine Independiente de Madrid · 22nd Route 66 Film Festival and 2 more
- Programmed at 18 other festivalsAcross 13 countries
Also selected at
5 awards, 13 official selections across 18 other festivals
- Winner17th Cine del Mar
- WinnerFestival Internacional de Cine Independiente de Madrid
- Winner22nd Route 66 Film Festival
- WinnerFestival Academia de Cine Antigua
- Winner42nd Paladino d’Oro film festival , Festival Special Prize
- Selection10th Santa Cruz International Film Festival
- Selection13th Ocean City Film Festival
- Selection16th Nepal America International Film Festival
- Selection22nd Dhaka Int. Film Festival
- Selection9th Fest Medallo International Film Festival
- SelectionBlack August Film Festival
- SelectionKino Bled Film Festival
- SelectionTamil Nadu International Film Festival
- Selection22nd Taiwan Ethnographic Film Festival
- Selection24th Woodstock Museum Film Festival
- Selection8th Cuzco Underground Cinema Festival
- Selection12th Eastbourne Int. Film Festival (Crossing the Screen)
- Selection45th Moscow International film festival
Recorded by the filmmaker on their entry.
Director's Biography
Alireza Rofougaran Director
Alireza Rofougaran is an Iranian Director, actor and translator born in Tehran, Iran June 1st, 1965. He was a businessman till 2004 when he changed careers to make his first documentary film “Chasing Che”, awarded and screened at over 65 film festivals worldwide. He has also acted in several critically acclaimed films including the Academy Award Winner; “The Salesman.”
Trailer
Placings
Recognised in this category at AFIN 2024, as announced that season.
- Best Documentary Feature Finalist