A searing and topical exploration of the immigrant experience shot through with elements of psychological thriller and erotic drama, Milad Alami’s striking debut feature is a complex tale of isolation, identity and the desperate search for one’s place in the world.

Nearly every night, handsome Esmail dons the same suit and heads to the same upscale wine bar, looking to meet and hook up with lonely women. But Esmail isn’t your typical pickup artist. An Iranian immigrant living in Denmark, he needs to find a Danish partner soon or face deportation. As the clock winds down and pressure mounts, a captivating young woman enters Esmail’s life, threatening to upend his carefully calibrated existence. The Charmer offers an intense, probing portrait of a man struggling to secure a better life, even if it means hurting others and losing himself in the process.

In competition for the New Voices New Visions Award.