Shirin Neshat Returns to the Parrish Art Museum for Screening and Conversation
Film & Talk: Land of Dreams | Sunday, August 10, 3:30–6 PM
Starring Matt Dillon, Isabella Rossellini
The Parrish Art Museum is pleased to welcome back internationally acclaimed artist and filmmaker Shirin Neshat for a special screening of her 2021 feature film, Land of Dreams (114 minutes), followed by an in-depth conversation with Corinne Erni, The Lewis B. and Dorothy Cullman Chief Curator of Art and Education and Deputy Director of Curatorial Affairs. The event takes place on Sunday, August 10, from 3:30 PM to 6 PM in the Museum’s Lichtenstein Theater.
The screening is presented in conjunction with Shirin Neshat: Born of Fire, currently on view at the Museum through September 1, 2025 — the artist’s first solo museum exhibition in the New York area in more than 20 years.
“We are thrilled to welcome Shirin Neshat back to the Parrish and invite the community to experience her film Land of Dreams. We’re honored to present this screening in conjunction with her exhibition on view, which offers viewers a timely opportunity to experience the depth of Neshat’s artistic practice — one that continues to challenge, illuminate, and connect across cultures. I encourage everyone to view the film and the incredible body of work on display before Shirin Neshat: Born of Fire closes later this summer,” said Mónica Ramírez-Montagut, Executive Director of the Museum.
Land of Dreams, co-directed by Neshat and Shoja Azari, is a surreal, satirical, and deeply personal exploration of identity, freedom, and the contradictions of American life. Set in a dystopian near-future, the story follows Simin, an Iranian immigrant working for the U.S. Census Bureau, which has launched a covert program to document citizens’ dreams. Simin’s journey becomes one of self-discovery, rebellion, and connection — set against a backdrop that blends humor, fantasy, and political commentary.
The film stars Sheila Vand, Matt Dillon, William Moseley, Isabella Rossellini, and Anna Gunn.
Still from the film Land of Dreams (2021) featuring Matt Dillon and Isabella Rosellini. Courtesy: Shirin Neshat.
About the Film
In Land of Dreams (2021, 114 minutes), Simin’s official task is to collect people’s dreams, but privately, she reenacts them on social media, performing in Farsi for a growing Iranian audience. As she navigates this dual existence, Simin becomes entangled with two eccentric men—Mark (William Moseley), a romantic poet, and Alan (Matt Dillon), a hard-edged cowboy—whose presence amplifies the absurdities of her mission. Through satire and symbolism, Neshat offers a poetic critique of surveillance, nationalism, and belonging.
“While fictional and satirical, Land of Dreams is a profound and timely examination of the American soul from the viewpoint of an Iranian immigrant artist. Neshat’s film skillfully examines what it means to live in two contrasting cultures; in fact, she has created a place to inhabit in between—one full of imagination, human connection, and reconciliation,” said Corinne Erni, Lewis B. and Dorothy Cullman Chief Curator of Art and Education, Deputy Director of Curatorial Affairs.
Tickets are free for Museum Members and Resident Benefits Passholders, and $30 for the general public ($24 for seniors). Advance registration is recommended due to limited seating availability. Registration here: https://www.parrishart.org/event/film-talk-land-of-dreams/
About the Exhibition
Shirin Neshat: Born of Fire presents four major bodies of work that trace the evolution of the artist’s creative and political voice, from her iconic Women of Allah photo series (1993–1997), to Land of Dreams (2019), Book of Kings (2012) and her more recent video works, including The Fury (2022–2023). The exhibition also features a gallery devoted to Neshat’s private art collection, with works by Marina Abramović, Robert Longo, and emerging artists from the Middle East.
Organized by Corinne Erni, with Scout Hutchinson, Associate Curator of Exhibitions, the exhibition explores enduring themes in Neshat’s work: storytelling, exile, resistance, and the resilience of the human spirit.
Exhibition Support
Lead sponsorship for Shirin Neshat: Born of Fire is provided by Veronica Beard, Agnes Gund, and the Robert Lehman Foundation.
Additional support is provided by Jacqueline Brody; Alaleh Khatibi and Ariel Ostad; Sandy and Stephen Perlbinder; Sarika Singh and Vivek Bantwal, Goldman Sachs Gives; Fern and Lenard Tessler; Neda Young and Family; Susan and Frank Dunlevy; Yanina Fuertes; Amy and Steven Horowitz; Monika and Deven Parekh; Alexandra Stanton and Sam Natapoff; George Wells and Manfred Rantner; Barbara Hoffman; Nina Yankowitz and Barry Holden; Gladstone Gallery; and Ellen Kern.
We are also grateful to Bri-Tech, Inc. and The Carpetman for their in-kind support. The Parrish Art Museum’s programs are made possible, in part, by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature, and by the property taxpayers from the Southampton School District and the Tuckahoe Common School District.
