Growing up in the Iranian capital Tehran, filmmaker Sara Khaki recalls seeing many examples of strong women in a male-dominated society.
These were women "fighting for their independence and demanding space for their lives", she says.
She later decided to research female entrepreneurs and activists in the country, and "came across this really amazing, tenacious individual who lives in the north-west of Iran, who rides a motorcycle, as the only female motorcycle rider in the region, and she's delivered 400 kids as a midwife".
That woman is Sara Shahverdi. After months of phone calls to build up a relationship, Khaki and co-director Mohammadreza Eyni learned this woman was also running for a council seat - and decided to make a film about her.
Cutting Through Rocks, as it is titled, has now become the first Iranian nominee for Best Documentary at the Oscars next month.
