Warden (2026)
Warden (2026)
In the forests of Tonekabon in northern Iran, Peyman, together with his friend Mohammad, a local ranger, tries to create a private refuge for endangered animals. They begin their work with hope and determination, watching over the forest, removing illegal traps, monitoring the area through camera traps, and seeking the support of local cattle herders in order to protect wildlife. But it soon becomes clear that this path is far more difficult than it first seemed.
As attacks on livestock increase, the concerns of local herders grow as well. People speak of their losses, fear and anger begin to spread through the region, and illegal hunting gradually rises. At the same time, signs begin to point to the presence of a leopard, an animal that is both part of the natural life of the region and, now, a source of tension and fear.
When one of Mohammad’s own cows is killed by the leopard, the situation is no longer only a professional or environmental matter. The conflict enters the relationship between Peyman and Mohammad and becomes deeply personal. Mohammad now stands between two worlds: on one side, his duty to protect wildlife, and on the other, the reality that local herders live with every day. Peyman continues trying to find a way forward for the future of the region, but each step he takes is met with greater resistance, doubt, and complexity.
With a human and non-judgmental perspective, the film shows that within the struggle between environmental protection and personal interests, there are no easy answers.
“This film is currently making its rounds in renowned international film festivals. We welcome further festival selections that align with our vision of sharing impactful stories with audiences across the globe.”
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:
For many years, we have been making documentaries about the environment, and through this work, more than anything, we have been confronted with the complex relationship between humans and nature. For us, the environment is not limited to beautiful landscapes or endangered species. It is also about the lives of the people who live alongside this nature every day. Time and again, we have seen that there is a serious conflict between environmental needs and personal or economic interests. On one side are the concerns of environmental advocates, and on the other are the worries and lived experiences of local people whose lives are directly tied to this geography.
This film became a serious subject for us when Peyman decided to create a private refuge to protect the region’s wild animals. This decision took shape in a context where we already knew there was a constant tension between livestock, grazing lands, and wildlife. It was clear to us that this situation could lead us into a place where the line between protection, fear, livelihood, and responsibility becomes very thin.
What mattered to us was entering this situation without judgment. We wanted to see how local people view the environment, what fears and concerns they carry, and what kind of conflict emerges when wildlife protection meets their everyday lives. For us, this film was an attempt to look closely at a part of reality that is often simplified, while in truth it is full of complexity, contradiction, and unanswered questions.
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Film Specifications
Credits:
- Director: Fathollah Amiri, Nima Asgari
- Producer: Fathollah Amiri
- Director of Photography: Nima Asgari
- Key Cast: Peyman Moghadas
- Key Cast: Mohammad Anbaloo
- Editor: Mohaddeseh Golchin Arefi
- Sound Recording: Ehsan Amiri
- Sound Design: Majid Mohammaddoust
- Distributor: Abbas Malek Hosseini
Technical:
- Project Type: Documentary
- Genres: Environment, Human and Nature, Drama
- Runtime: 52 minutes 23 seconds
- Completion Date: February 1, 2026
- Country of Filming: Iran
- Language: Persian, Mazani (English Subtitle)
- Shooting Format: 4K
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Film Color: Color
- More info on IMDb
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