Soheil Beiraghi (Persian: سهیل بیرقی; born October 16, 1986, in Shahreza, Iran) is an Iranian independent film director, screenwriter and producer.

However, as he yearned to be an independent creator, he left the screenplay unfinished and set about making films based on his own writings and short stories.

[6] His love of cinema grew deeper to such an extent that in 2005 he gave up his studies in industrial engineering and dedicated himself to filmmaking, working as an assistant director and planner for the following 10 years.

During the course of the decade he had the opportunity to collaborate with prominent filmmakers such as Varuzh Karim-Masihi, Rasool Sadr Ameli, Hassan Fathi, Abdolreza Kahani and Bahram Tavakoli.

Moreover, they don't take a passive role in dealing with difficulties and people; on the contrary, they make every effort to reclaim their rights, no matter what the consequences would be.

Curiously enough, the adherents of the feminist movement regard his films as misogynistic, since another recurrent theme highlighted in his narratives is women taking action against each other.

The same as the protagonists, the events of the three narratives move on against the current of the prevalent filmmaking principles, in the opposite direction of the existing cinematic and storytelling techniques.

The novelty of the script and the narrative structure which was made up of subplots were the features particularly acclaimed by the critics who applauded as well the director's fresh look at a social problem and his ability to guide the actors, especially the female character.

The film's central theme is this woman's struggle for her fundamental rights, a lead role played by Baran Kosari which attracted a lot of public and media attention.

[20][21][22][23][24][25][26] The striking similarity between the plot and the reality about Iranian female athletes, prevented from taking part in international competitions by their husbands, provoked fierce debate.

[28] Two years later, in 2020, Beiraghi began shooting his third feature film Popular, a threequel to his two previous works I (Me) and Cold Sweat, all dealing with women's issues.

Audience Award received by Baran Kosari for Best Actress Having already a successful career in directing and screenwriting, Beiraghi made his professional debut as a producer in 2020 with Popular.

[32] Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) abstained from releasing the teaser trailers of I (Me) on the pretext that they had been shown on Gem TV, a Persian-language entertainment satellite channel.

The film crew tried to convince them that they were unaware of the teaser's release on the satellite channel, but the IRIB's television commercial authorities simply asked for a property deed and did nothing more.

[39] Even some of the medias from the opposing side renamed the film Chilled Sweat with the intention of criticizing hookah smoking and tooth brushing scenes.

[40] The film came under fierce criticism from Tasnim News Agency whose headlines read ‘Man and Religion’; Feminism Pays Them Back!’[41] ‘Feminist Extremism Gives Flavour to Football’.

Fars News Agency criticized the film for having looked at a domestic issue from a western perspective and blamed it for the propagation of ideas that encourage women to initiate movements and claim their rights.

[45] Saeid Ghotbizadeh, another critic of the show enumerated the strong points of the film on his Instagram page after its screening at the festival: Beiraghi’s cleverness in choosing the film’s subject, simple, but influential narration, Baran Kosari’s artistic maturity and dexterity, Amir Jadidi’s thoughtful acting, Sahar Dolatshahi’s skill in playing unusual characters and her ability to make an enemy of herself.

Keivan Kasirian admired the filmmaker for his audacity to exploit such themes acknowledging his film as a well-structured and smooth running work.

[50] Fully informed about the statement, Yazdan Ashiri, the Art Department’s public relations manager told that Cold Sweat wouldn’t be placed in the list of their priorities for screening because of its content and themes.

[51] Although on October 11 Cold Sweat was due for its public screening in Atlas and Golshan Multiplex Cinemas in Mashhad, the event was cancelled without explanation.

[52] When the Fajr International Festival was being held, Tayyebeh Siavoshi, a fraction member of the Parliament of Iran proposed to amend the law with respect to passport limitations to include the possibility of women’s travelling abroad without their husbands’ permission.

Therefore, Shahindokht Molaverdi , vice president of Iran in the cabinet of Hassan Rouhani and Mr Sarmast attended the screening of Cold Sweat.

Later, some amendments to the passport regulations were approved and passed in the Parliament, but unfortunately scenarios similar to the ones that happened in the film are still affecting the lives of Iranian sportswomen.