Mahsa: Premiere Screening + Panel Discussion

Sat, Jul 12

Sat, Jul 12

7:00 pm Sold Out

Run Time: 145 min.

TICKETS $15

Doors 6:30 p.m.; Event 7 p.m.
Select Showtime to Purchase Tickets

Click here to learn more about accessibility at the Tomorrow Theater.

THE EXPERIENCE

Join us for a screening of Mahsa (or, the Girl That Ate Her Way Home)—a tender, visually stunning short film that follows Mahsa Darabi as she embarks on a journey to find her way back to her Iranian roots through the common language of food. With voracious curiosity, an impulsive spirit, and a natural gift for connection, Mahsa’s story reveals how flavors, memories, and shared meals can lead us home—to identity, culture, and belonging.

After the film, stay for a lively panel discussion on food as a bridge to self and community, featuring MAHSA Chai® founder Mahsa Darabi, filmmaker Travis Hanour, artist-activist Taravat Talepasand, and tastemaker-producer Judiaann Woo. The conversation will be moderated by culture strategist Kimiko Matsuda. Don’t miss this heartfelt exploration of heritage, identity, and the ties that bind us together.

ON SCREEN: Mahsa

2025. Directed by Travis Hanour. Runtime: 1hr 2min. Not Rated.

Armed with a voracious curiosity, impulsive slant, and intrinsic ability to connect with others, Mahsa Darabi embarks on a journey to find her way back to her Iranian roots through the common language of food.

PANELIST: Mahsa Darabi

Mahsa Darabi’s passion for food is deeply intertwined with her personal journey and cultural identity. As an Iranian immigrant, she transformed her experiences into a thriving culinary career, including a finalist spot on Food Network’s Cutthroat Kitchen. Beyond her work as a private chef and food experience guide through The Moody Persian, she recently launched MAHSA Chai® on International Women’s Day 2024. Her story of self-acceptance and the central role food plays in her life is chronicled in the film “MAHSA (or the Girl That Ate Her Way Home),” a powerful exploration of food, identity, and finding home.

PANELIST: Taravat Talepasand

Taravat Talepasand is an artist, activist, and educator whose labor-intensive interdisciplinary painting practice questions normative cultural behaviors within contemporary power imbalances. As an Iranian-American woman, Talepasand explores the parallels of cultural taboos that reflect on gender apartheid and political authority to reflect the cross-pollination, or lack thereof, in her approach to subversive joy. Taravat Talepasand has exhibited nationally and internationally and is in the permanent collection at the Portland Art Museum and is the Assistant Professor of Art Practice at Portland State University Schnitzer School of Art + Art History + Design.

PANELIST: Judiaann Woo

Judiaann Woo was born in South Korea, raised in Oregon, and established herself as a tastemaker and industry leader in New York City before returning to Portland in 2011. Throughout her career, she has collaborated with many of America’s leading chefs, spearheaded award-winning marketing campaigns, and shared her culinary and lifestyle expertise across national media platforms. Today, Judiaann is an independent marketing consultant, social media strategist, and content producer. Her Instagram account (@judiaann) is frequently recognized as one of Portland’s top food and travel feeds. She is also the host of the podcast Food People Are the Best People and actively serves on several community and civic boards, including Portland Backpack, Reimagine Portland, Les Dames d’Escoffier, and KAPRO (Korean American Professionals of Oregon).

PANELIST: Travis Hanour

Travis Hanour is a writer and DGA director known for blending poetic realism with grounded, human-centered storytelling. His work spans narrative, documentary, and commercial projects, but at the heart of it all is a deep commitment to authenticity and emotional truth. Hanour often explores themes of identity, resilience, and cultural belonging—whether behind the camera on major brand campaigns or in more intimate, character-driven documentaries. His films include Rift, The Ice, and Mahsa (or, the Girl Who Ate Her Way Home), each reflecting his careful attention to image, tone, and the lived experiences of his subjects. He is currently developing multiple narrative and documentary projects.

MODERATOR: Kimiko Matsuda

Okay, you have to meet Kimiko Matsuda. She’s one of those people who just knows where to go, what’s good, and who’s making real moves in Portland. She’s a second-generation entrepreneur and cultural strategist with a background at Nike—but these days, she’s the creative force behind @kimi.ko__, one of Portland’s most trusted lifestyle and culture Instagram accounts. She’s the one curating the most thoughtful experiences around town, connecting the dots between Portland’s arts, culinary, and design scenes. Kimiko has been recognized by Travel Portland, featured in Portland Monthly, and is basically everyone’s secret weapon when it comes to turning a cool idea into something people actually show up for.

Trust me—you’re going to want to meet her.

Note: We do not generally provide advisories about subject matter or potentially triggering content in films, and films exhibited don’t necessarily reflect the views of PAM CUT, the Tomorrow Theater, or the Portland Art Museum. In addition to the synopses, trailers and other links on our website, further information about content and age-appropriateness for specific films can be found on sites like Common Sense Media, IMDb and DoesTheDogDie.com.

OMGNW!