Candid Dreams
Narrative Feature
Project Type: Feature Film Narrative
Project Status: Post-Production
Director: Elyes Baccar
Producer: Ahmad Zahra
Executive Producer: Tony Jollet
LOGLINE
When a young Iranian woman visiting Los Angeles is tragically murdered, her death sets off a chain of events that links the lives of seven women, each chasing their version of the American dream.
SYNOPSIS
When Zahra, a young Iranian woman visiting Los Angeles with her sister Bahar, is tragically murdered after a weekend camping trip, her death sets off a chain of events that links the lives of seven women, each chasing their version of the American dream.
Shaken by Zahra’s death and desperate to avoid police scrutiny, the perpetrator, Sean, urges his stepsister Amy and her boyfriend Jason to flee to Las Vegas. Amy finds herself torn between loyalty, fear, and a dawning realization that uncovering the truth could cost her everything.
Bahar, ridden with guilt, recalls the desperation that brought her to America. Once a student protester in Tehran, she was forced into hiding and under the control of her abusive fiancé. Choosing exile over imprisonment, she escaped to LA with Zahra—only to lose her in a city that promised freedom but delivered tragedy.
Amid the unfolding chaos, Emma, an Italian writer, wanders Los Angeles after a painful divorce, searching for meaning. She journals her encounters with men—including Carlos, Zahra’s boyfriend—and confronts the illusions she once held about love, connection, and identity.
In East LA, Carlos’ mother Carmen, an undocumented Mexican mother, lives in the shadows, awaiting a divorce that could decide her fate, while his sister, Luna, now pregnant, dares to cross the border for a better future.
Meanwhile, Anika, a soft-spoken Swedish woman, has followed her partner Bjorn to LA, supporting his dream of becoming a wrestler. But when she discovers his secret double life, Anika is forced to reclaim her independence and begin building a future of her own in a city that demands constant reinvention.
And in a quiet suburb, Rose, the wife of a former soldier haunted by PTSD, walks on eggshells. Her husband, Josh—once heroic—is now paranoid and controlling. For the sake of her son, Rose must find the strength to escape his psychological grip, even if it means confronting the fears she’s buried for years.
As all their lives converge, a larger portrait of Los Angeles emerges—a city of illusions and contradictions, where seven women from different corners of the world confront violence, loss, and isolation while searching for identity, hope, and freedom.
MORE ABOUT THIS PROJECT
Candid Dreams explores the promise and contradictions of the American dream through the intersecting lives of seven women from different cultural and social backgrounds in Los Angeles. Their stories address migration, violence, abusive relationships, displacement, cultural isolation, identity, belonging, and the struggle to begin again. Rather than treating these experiences as separate “issues,” the film connects them through a shared search for safety, dignity, hope, and freedom.
At its center is the question of what it means to belong in a city—and a country—defined by both possibility and exclusion. The film’s international ensemble reflects contemporary Los Angeles and the ways women’s lives can be shaped by borders, relationships, economic uncertainty, trauma, and reinvention. Through these intersecting perspectives, Candid Dreams seeks to humanize experiences that are often discussed politically or abstractly and instead present them through intimate, character-driven stories.
Meet The Filmmakers
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Elyes Baccar
Director
Elyes Baccar was born in Tunisia and lives in Los Angeles, California. He is an acclaimed international director and screenwriter of feature films, documentaries, series and TV formats. He studied directing at the French Film School (CLCF), attended the European Foundation of Motion Pictures’ (FEMIS) training program in Paris and the Cultural Manager Program at Goethe Institute in Berlin. He also founded ACTIF, a cultural NGO in Tunisia, organized the International Human Rights Film Festival, and was appointed as the first President of FACT, the UNESCO’s Forum of Tunisian Cultural Associations. He started his career as an assistant director to several Tunisian and international films including Star Wars and Desert of Fire (directed by Enzo G. Castellari, starring Claudia Cardinale and Vittorio Gassman). He later directed feature films, short films, TV commercials and Theatre plays. In 2006 he directed Hia w’Houa (She & He), his first feature film which participated in international film festivals. His movies “Rouge Parole” and “Tunis by Night” were critically acclaimed and won several international prizes. In 2025, Elyes filmed “Candid Dreams”, his first feature in the US.
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Ahmad Zahra
Producer
Born in Damascus and raised between England and Syria, Ahmad is an awardwinning producer with over two decades of experience. His work ranges from producing segments for networks like Hallmark Channel and Al Jazeera to producing documentaries and films, including the documentary “On Common Grounds” (Hallmark Channel), the feature film “American East” starring Emmy winner Tony Shalhoub, co-produced with Distant Horizon and released by MGM, and the critically acclaimed feature film, “Three Veils”. His work reflects his diverse upbringing and goal to create entertainment that makes a difference. Ahmad has been producing films under his banner ZAHRA PICTURES.
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Tony Jollet
Executive Producer
Tony, a seasoned producer and accomplished actor, brings a wealth of experience and passion to the film. Having worked on numerous productions, Tony's dedication to storytelling and commitment to excellence have earned him a reputation for delivering high-quality projects. As both a producer and actor, Tony's creative vision and collaborative spirit are instrumental in bringing the intricate narratives of "Candid Dreams" to life and elevating the story to new heights.
I went to UCLA thinking I’d just explore a few creative things, but I ended up discovering how powerful visual language can be—and how much I love using it. That’s where I found my path in art direction, which brings together everything I care about: design, storytelling, and creative leadership. After college, I worked on a number of projects with director Kaith Karishma in Los Angeles, and eventually moved to San Francisco, where I continue to develop my practice.
Your Help
CANDID DREAMS is a fiscally sponsored project of Cinematography for Actors, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Your donation will be tax-deductible!