Houbara (2020)
A film by:
Houbara (2020)
Houbara follows a decade-long journey to uncover the plight of the Houbara Bustard, a rare desert bird hunted and trafficked from Iran to the Persian Gulf for falconry. Esteemed for its cultural significance, this bird faces near extinction due to relentless poaching, smuggling, and habitat destruction.
The film explores Iran’s Houbara habitats and traces the bird’s journey to a Persian Gulf country’s black market, revealing the shocking scale of this illegal trade. With intimate footage and candid interviews, it highlights the economic struggles of local communities contributing to the bird’s exploitation while showcasing the tireless efforts of rangers and conservationists to save it.
Through its unflinching narrative, Houbara paints a powerful picture of the challenges of preserving this species while questioning the human impact on fragile ecosystems. This eye-opening documentary calls for action to protect not just the Houbara Bustard but also the delicate balance of nature it represents.
Iran International Documentary Film Festival, Cinema Verite
Tehran
Iran, Islamic Republic of
October 1, 2020
Best Editing Award
45th International Wildlife Film Festival (IWFF)
Missoula, Montana
United States
April 28, 2022
North American Premiere
Official Selection
20th Wildlife Vaasa Festival – International Nature Film Festival
Vaasa
Finland
September 28, 2022
Best Environment & Conservation Film
38th Ménigoute International Film Festival
Ménigoute
France
October 27, 2022
France Premiere
Official Selection
25th Gran Paradiso Film Festival
Cogne
Italy
July 29, 2022
Official Selection
36th Sondrio Film Festival
Sondrio
Italy
October 29, 2022
Official Selection
20th MAFF | Matsalu Nature Film Festival
Lihula
Estonia
September 21, 2022
Grand Prix and Best Director
S.O.F.A Film Festival
Cyprus
October 1, 2022
Official Selection
Trailer
Director
- Director, Producer
Fathollah Amiri is a highly acclaimed Iranian documentary filmmaker specializing in environmental and wildlife films. With over two decades of experience, Amiri has produced numerous documentaries that explore the rich biodiversity of Iran and raise awareness about critical environmental issues. His work has earned him over 50 national and 20 international awards, cementing his reputation as one of Iran’s leading environmental filmmakers.
Amiri’s film Ranger and Leopard received the prestigious Green Screen award in Germany in 2018. His documentary Vortex won the top prize at the 33rd Sondrio Festival in Italy in 2019. Amiri has also served as a jury member for esteemed festivals, including the Matsalu Nature Film Festival in Estonia (2019) and the Sondrio Environmental Film Festival in Italy (2020).
In Iran, Amiri has been recognized with some of the country’s most significant awards, including the Crystal Simorgh for Best Feature Documentary at the Fajr International Film Festival in 2011 for In Search of the Iranian Leopard. He also won the Grand Prize at the Cinema Verite Festival in 2014 for Life in Cold Veins and received multiple Cypress Awards at the Jam-e Jam TV Festival for works like Reptiles of Iran (2013) and The Ranger and the Leopard (2018).
Amiri holds a Master’s degree in Documentary Production from IRIB University and continues to be a prominent voice in Iranian cinema, inspiring global audiences with his thought-provoking films on wildlife and environmental conservation.
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- Cinematographer, Director
Nima Asgari is a renowned Iranian filmmaker and environmentalist with a degree in Environment and Natural Resources. He honed his filmmaking skills at the Iranian Youth Cinema Association, one of the country’s most esteemed institutions for training filmmakers. Since 2010, he has been an integral part of the Wildlife Pictures Institute, a platform dedicated to documenting Iran’s rich biodiversity and advocating for the conservation of endangered species.
Asgari began his career in 2007 with the Iranian Cheetah Society, where he worked as a researcher and cinematographer, focusing on rare and vulnerable species such as the Asiatic cheetah, the great bustard, the Persian onager, and the houbara bustard. Through his work at the Wildlife Pictures Institute, he has produced numerous documentaries that explore these species in their natural habitats, offering audiences a unique insight into the challenges of wildlife conservation in Iran.
Most of Nima’s films delve into the intricate relationship between human societies and nature, emphasizing the devastating impact of human activities on wildlife extinction. Over the course of his career, he has directed and produced more than 30 documentary films, earning over a dozen international awards. His critically acclaimed films Ranger and Leopard (2018) and Houbara (2022) have garnered widespread recognition, including the Grand Prix and Best Director awards at the Matsalu Nature Film Festival in Estonia. In addition, his film Ranger and Leopard was awarded at the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival (2018) and earned him the Best Director title at Iran’s prestigious Cinema Verite Film Festival in the same year.
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Director's Statement:
The journey of Houbara began with an interest in studying the behavior of the Houbara Bustard, but it evolved into a mission to uncover the larger, more complex realities surrounding its survival. Over nearly a decade, we encountered stories of illegal hunting, smuggling, and exploitation, while witnessing the tireless efforts of rangers and conservationists battling against these challenges. Filming often placed us in risky situations, from navigating dangerous terrains to confronting the realities of wildlife trafficking.
Through Houbara, we aim to shed light on the devastating impact of human activities on this iconic bird and its ecosystem. Our hope is that this film inspires audiences to reflect on their relationship with nature, understanding that conservation is not only about saving a species but also preserving the cultural and ecological balance of our planet.
Streaming
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Film Specifications
Credits:
- Director: Fathollah Amiri, Nima Asgari
- Writer: Fathollah Amiri, Nima Asgari
- Producer: Mohammad Ala
- Cinematographer: Nima Asgari
- Researchers: Mohammad Ibrahim Sehati Sabet
- Original Music: Babak Mirzakhani
- Sound Recorder: Arash Moharami
- Sound Mixer: Behrooz Moavenian, Erfan Ibrahimi
- Color Correction: Mehrdad Shokri, Morteza Moghadasi
- Production: Wildlife Pictures institute
Technical:
- Project Type: Documentary, Feature
- Genres: Wildlife, human and nature, environment
- Runtime: 1 hour 3 minutes
- Completion Date: October 1, 2020
- Country of Filming: Iran, Qatar
- Language: Persian
- Subtitle: English, Arabic
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Film Color: Color
Film Roadmap & Milestones
Production (2017 – 2020)
Post-Production (2020)
Film Festival Circuit (2020 – 2023)
Press & Media Coverage (2020 – 2023)
TV Distribution (2023 – Ongoing)
Selling Uncut Film Clips (2023 – Ongoing)
Free Release of Film Footage (2030)
Open Access to the Film (2035)
- Production (2014 - 2019)
- Post-Production (2019)
- Film Festival Circuit (2019 - 2021)
- Press & Media Coverage (2019)
- Free Release of Film Footage (2030)
- Open Access to the Film (2035)
Contact & Request
abbas@souzian.com
Pärnu mnt. 139c, 11317, Tallinn, Estonia
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Quick Links
Get In Touch
- mail: abbas@souzian.com
- Phone: +90-538-378-77-03
- Address: Pärnu mnt. 139c, 11317, Tallinn