Tanhavash (2016)
Tanhavash (2016)
Tanhavash is a powerful documentary that follows a remarkable mission to find and document one of Iran’s rarest treasures: the Asiatic Cheetah, known as the “Iranian Cheetah.” With fewer than 100 believed to survive, this unique subspecies now exists only in Iran, making the country its final refuge and last hope. Unlike its African cousin roaming open savannas, the Asiatic Cheetah has vanished from almost every other habitat, leaving its survival at risk.
The journey began in 2009 when the Conservation of the Asiatic Cheetah Project (CACP), Iranian Cheetah Society (ICS), and Plan for Land Society launched an ambitious search in Kavir National Park. Despite setting up dozens of trail cameras, only one male cheetah was recorded, a heartbreaking sign of the species’ decline.
Driven by passion and determination, wildlife filmmaker Fathollah Amiri embarked on a six-year journey across Kavir’s vast wilderness, enduring extreme heat, rugged terrain, and long stretches of solitude. Tanhavash captures this pursuit, blending Iran’s stunning landscapes with the urgent fight to save its most endangered predator.
With breathtaking visuals and a moving narrative, Tanhavash inspires viewers to protect these magnificent creatures before they disappear forever.
The Iranian House of Cinema Ceremony
Tehran, Iran, Islamic Republic of
The Best Mid-length Documentary Film
Wildlife Conservation Film Festival
New York, United States
October 22, 2016
Best Foreign Film
International Cinema Verite Film Festival
Tehran, Iran, Islamic Republic of
March 10, 2016
Appreciation Certificate
IRIB National Festival
Ahvaz, Iran, Islamic Republic of
The Best Researcher Award
Matsalu Nature Film Festival
Lihula, Estonia
September 19, 2016
Official Selection
International VAASA Film Festival
Vassa, Finland
September 22, 2016
Official Selection
10th JAHORINA Film Festival
Pale, Bosnia and Herzegovina
September 20, 2017
Official Selection
NaturVision Film Festival
Ludwigsburg, Germany
July 13, 2017
Out of Competition
Grand IndieWise Convention
South Florida, United States
August 9, 2018
Finalist
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.
(more…)
Director's Statement:
Creating Tanhavash was a journey of resilience and responsibility. As wildlife filmmakers, we felt a profound duty to shed light on the precarious fate of the Asiatic Cheetah, a species teetering on the edge of extinction. Over six years, we traversed Iran’s vast wilderness, facing extreme challenges and long stretches of solitude, all to capture a fleeting glimpse of this majestic predator. This film became more than just a documentary—it became a mission to preserve a vital part of Iran’s natural heritage and to inspire a global call for action.
Through Tanhavash, we aimed to connect audiences with the fragility and beauty of the natural world, showcasing not only the breathtaking landscapes of Iran but also the incredible efforts of those working tirelessly to protect its wildlife. We hope this film encourages people to reflect on their relationship with nature and to join the fight to save endangered species before it’s too late.
Watch the Movie
Due to copyright and licensing regulations, the full version of this film cannot be freely available on the internet. To watch and access the film, you must have the playback password.
We have provided you with a PassCode to retrieve the playback password, also called “access password“. Please enter your PassCode in the box below to display the playback password. Once received, copy the password into the video player’s input field to watch the film.
If you experience any access issues, please click here to watch the video guide.
If you don’t have a PassCode, simply fill out the form below to request access. Our team will get in touch with you shortly to provide the necessary instructions and help you start watching.
Film Specifications
Credits:
- Director: Fathollah Amiri
- Writer: Fathollah Amiri, M. S. Farhadinia
- Producer: Fathollah Amiri
- Cinematographer: Nima Asgari
- Editor: Majid Mohammaddoust
- Music Composer: Babak Mirzakhani
- Production: Wildlife Pictures institute
Technical:
- Project Type: Documentary Feature
- Runtime: 56 minutes
- Completion Year: 2016
- Country of Filming: Iran
- Language: Persian (with English subtitles)
- Shooting Format: Digital
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Film Color: Color
Contact & Request
abbas@souzian.com
Pärnu mnt. 139c, 11317, Tallinn, Estonia
