Tanhavash (2016)

Tanhavash

“A Six-Year Quest Across Iran’s Vast Wilderness to Capture the Last Asiatic Cheetahs”

Tanhavash is an emotionally charged documentary that takes audiences into the heart of a desperate mission: to track down and document the rarest of Iran’s treasures, the Asiatic Cheetah, known as the “Iranian Cheetah.” This extraordinary subspecies, now found only in Iran, hovers on the brink of extinction, with fewer than 100 believed to survive. While its African cousin roams savannas elsewhere, the Asiatic Cheetah has vanished from every other landscape, making Iran its final refuge and last hope.

The journey began in 2009, as a team led by the Conservation of the Asiatic Cheetah Project (CACP), Iranian Cheetah Society (ICS), and Plan for Land Society set out to find signs of these majestic cats in Iran’s vast Kavir National Park. However, despite deploying dozens of trail cameras, only a single male cheetah appeared on film—a heartbreaking revelation for those fighting to keep the species alive.

Driven by a deep passion and an unwavering commitment to Iran’s natural heritage, wildlife filmmaker Fathollah Amiri took up the challenge, embarking on a grueling six-year journey across Kavir’s immense wilderness—an area as vast as Switzerland. Through rugged terrain, scorching heat, and endless solitude, Amiri pursued his mission with relentless dedication. Tanhavash captures this epic journey, showcasing Iran’s breathtaking landscapes and the urgent battle to preserve its most endangered predator.

With captivating visuals and a powerful narrative, Tanhavash draws viewers into a world of suspense and beauty, igniting a sense of responsibility toward wildlife conservation and reminding us of the fragile existence of these magnificent creatures. It’s a call to action, a tribute to perseverance, and a stirring reminder of what’s at stake if we let the Iranian Cheetah fade into memory.

International Cinema Verite Film Festival Tehran Iran, Islamic Republic of March 10, 2016 Appreciation Certificate

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

10th JAHORINA FILM FESTIVAL Pale Bosnia and Herzegovina September 20, 2017 Official Selection

International VAASA Film Festival Vassa Finland September 22, 2016 Official Selection

Matsalu Nature Film Festival Lihula Estonia September 19, 2016 Official Selection

NaturVision Film Festival Ludwigzburg Germany July 13, 2017 Out of Competition

IRIB National Festival Ahvaz Iran, Islamic Republic of The Best Researcher Award

Grand IndieWise Convention South Florida United States August 9, 2018 Finalist

Trailer

Gallery & Behind the Scenes

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Director

Fathollah Amiri

Director and Producer

Fathollah Amiri is a renowned documentary filmmaker with a distinguished career focusing on the environment and wildlife of Iran. He has garnered significant recognition on the international stage, including serving as a judge at prestigious environmental film festivals such as the Matsalu Nature Film Festival in Estonia in 2019 and the Sondrio Festival of Environmental Films in Italy in 2020.

Amiri has won over 50 national awards and 20 international awards for his various works. Notable achievements include the Crystal Simorgh for Best Feature Documentary in 2011 for "In Search of the Iranian Leopard," the Grand Prize for Best Film at the Cinema Verite Festival in 2014 for "Life in Cold Veins," the Cypress Award for Best Documentary Series at the Jam-e Jam TV Festival in 2013 for producing the series "Reptiles of Iran," the Cypress Award for Best Documentary Director at the Jam-e Jam TV Festival in 2018 for "The Ranger and the Leopard," and the Best Documentary Award at the National Student Film Festival for "Life in Eclipse."

One of his most significant accomplishments is winning the prestigious "Wildscreen" award, known as the Green Oscar, for his film "In the Realm of the Spider-Tailed Viper."

His recent works include "In the Whirlpool of Extinction," "Houbara," and "The Gamekeeper."

Fathollah Amiri holds a Master's degree in Documentary Production from the IRIB University and is a member of the Iranian Documentary Filmmakers Association, the Iranian Documentary Cinema Producers Association, and the Environmental Committee of IRIB.

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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
  • Festival Distributor: Majid Mohammaddoust
  • Production: Wildlife Pictures intitute

Technical:

  • Project Type: Documentary
  • Runtime: 55 minutes 34 seconds
  • Completion Date: March 10, 2016
  • Language: Persian
  • Shooting Format: Digital
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Film Color: Color

Film Roadmap & Milestones

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