This is my second year attending the Cinema Verite Documentary Film Festival as a distributor. The festival is held every year in Tehran, and this edition introduced a new section called Iran, created after the recent attack by Israel. The section focuses on films about national identity and historical memory.

I attended the festival with my colleague Ms. Mahkame Majdi. The venue changed compared to last year, which gave the event a different atmosphere. I went to the opening night in a rainy Tehran, carrying a quiet mix of hope and responsibility.

This year my plan is to introduce Souzian Dispatch to more people in the industry and also connect with new filmmakers for potential funding opportunities. In this report I share my experience at the festival and the films I had the chance to watch.

Meeting Friends and Exploring New Collaborations

The festival was a valuable opportunity to reconnect with friends and colleagues. I also met new media representatives, distributors from Iran and other countries, and became more familiar with Iranian documentary filmmaking associations. These conversations opened space for future collaboration and helped strengthen professional connections beyond formal meetings.

Alongside meeting new directors, I also introduced Souzian Dispatch to a wider group of filmmakers. The response was very positive and encouraging. In particular, filmmakers and cinema professionals from the Middle East, including Turkey and Lebanon, showed strong interest and expressed their willingness to share news and updates with me for future coverage.

Films I Watched at the Festival

Below is a selection of the films I watched during this edition of the festival, listed in order. Due to limited time, I was not able to attend many screenings in the cinema halls, so I focused on the most essential titles. I plan to watch the remaining films online through the Hashoor platform.

Aras, the Roaring River by Hadi Afrideh | Iran

Aras, the Roaring River is a 68-minute documentary directed by Iranian filmmaker Hadi Afrideh. Set along the northwestern borders of Iran, the film follows the Aras River as a calm yet persistent presence in a region shaped by history and endurance. Through a poetic documentary approach, it tells the story of communities who have lived beside the river for centuries, exploring themes of cultural identity, survival, and the relationship between people and their land.

Flamingos Life after the Meteorite by Lorenzo Hagerman | Mexico

Flamingos Life after the Meteorite is an 83-minute documentary directed by Mexican filmmaker Lorenzo Hagerman. Filmed over the course of nine years, the film follows Caribbean flamingos through one of the most delicate periods of their existence. Focusing on the search for the right mate, place, and time to create a family, the documentary explores themes of survival, balance, and continuity in nature, presenting an intimate portrait of life shaped by patience and fragile ecosystems.

Grape Season by Ebrahim Hesari | Iran

Grape Season is a 27-minute documentary directed by Iranian filmmaker Ebrahim Hesari. The film tells an intimate family story shaped by illness, love, and resilience. Set in Iran, it follows the director’s parents during a difficult period when his mother suffers from severe chronic illnesses and later contracts COVID-19. Through a personal and observational approach, the film explores devotion, emotional endurance, and the quiet strength of love in the face of separation and uncertainty.

Qaem Forest by Hamed Saadat | Iran

Qaem Forest is a 59-minute documentary directed by Iranian filmmaker Hamed Saadat. Set in the city of Kerman, the film looks back at years when the region was severely affected by dust storms. It tells the story of local people who came together to build a forest around the city as a way to stop the spread of dust and protect their living environment. Through this collective effort, the film highlights community participation, shared responsibility, and a grassroots environmental action shaped by cooperation and long-term commitment.

Shadows Behind the Frame by Ivan Baturin | Russian Federation

Shadows Behind the Frame is a 60-minute documentary directed by Russian filmmaker Ivan Baturin. The film focuses on Lyudmila Kusakova, one of the first women production designers in the Soviet Union. Drawing from discarded objects and materials found in urban spaces, she created distinctive film sets that later became part of the golden legacy of Soviet cinema. The documentary also reflects on her creative partnership with her husband and mentor, Mikhail Kartashov, highlighting the often unseen role of production design in shaping cinematic worlds.

Agira by Mohammad Sadegh Esmaeili | Iran

Awake is an 85-minute documentary directed by Iranian filmmaker Mohammad Sadegh Esmaeili. The film follows Ali, a young man searching for his parents while living with the lingering doubt that he may have been abandoned at birth. Set in Iran, the documentary traces his difficult journey as he moves between hope and uncertainty, exploring themes of identity, belonging, and the emotional weight of unanswered questions.

The Return of the Persian Onager by Fathollah Amiri and Nima Asgari | Iran

The Return of the Persian Onager is a 114-minute documentary directed by Iranian filmmakers Fathollah Amiri and Nima Asgari. The film follows the rediscovery and revival efforts of the Persian onager, one of Iran’s most endangered wildlife species. Beginning with a note found in an abandoned environmental outpost that traces back to the early 1980s, the documentary documents scientific research, fieldwork, and long-term conservation efforts aimed at restoring the species to its natural habitat in Iran.

Like an Bahman by Mahmoud Rahmani | Iran

Like an Bahman is a 77-minute documentary directed by Iranian filmmaker Mahmoud Rahmani. The film reflects on the life and legacy of Bahman Alaeddin, one of the most influential singers of the Bakhtiari and Lur tribes. Through archival material and the voices of respected musicians and cultural figures, the documentary explores his impact on Iranian folk music while also touching on aspects of his personal life, love, and mortality.