Secret Iranian Film Wins Sundance Award

A feature film secretly filmed in Iran and smuggled out of the country won a jury award for ensemble cast at the Sundance Film Festival, while the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy are underway, facing scrutiny over their sustainability. Additionally, the absence of a Russian team in figure skating events adds a layer of complexity to the games.

The film, "The Friend's House is Here," was recognized at Sundance, with Maryam Ataei and Hossein Keshavarz attending the premiere in Park City, Utah, according to NPR. The film's creation and subsequent smuggling out of Iran highlight the challenges faced by filmmakers in the country.

Meanwhile, the 2026 Winter Olympics are taking place in Italy. NPR journalists are reporting on the games, including coverage of Lindsey Vonn's comeback, Chloe Kim's shoulder injury, and the U.S. men's hockey team's pursuit of gold. The games are also under scrutiny regarding their sustainability efforts. The Winter Olympics in Italy were meant to be sustainable, according to NPR, but the extent of their success remains to be seen.

Adding to the complexity of the games, the Russian team will be missing from the figure skating roster. Following Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) condemned the action, declaring that the war violated the Olympic Truce and the Olympic Charter, according to Time. This decision has impacted the team event, which debuted at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi and involves skaters in women's, men's, pairs, and ice dance disciplines.