Tehran – The Iranian documentary “Dog Eater,” co-directed by Fatholah Amiri and Nima Asgari, won the award at the Ankara International Wildlife Documentary Film Festival in Turkey from May 15th to 18th.
A total of 691 shorts and featured documentaries from 89 countries participated in the first edition of the Turkish Festival. The only participant from Iran, “Dog Eater,” is one of the seven films that won the best short documentary award, the IRNA reported.
The 40-minute documentary explores the border villages of North Kolasan province. There, tranquility is shattered by the disappearance of the dog and the fear pervades by the brave Panther. Instead of taking dramatic measures, villagers seek help from environmental authorities and experts. After a 10-day struggle, they capture the old Panther and shed light on the mystery behind the dog-eating behavior. However, an unfortunate incident occurs after the Panther is transported to Tehran, giving the story a tragic twist.
The documentary, produced in 2024, is a hybrid and tale of a story of wild and protected species of creatures, as its title suggests, and was caught up in an unintended conflict that arises in inevitably human society. They will seek evacuation in a border village on the outskirts of Horasan and hunt livestock of villagers and herdsmen to sustain their lives.
The documentary not only shows the story of a social environment in which filmmakers observe the challenges and struggles of the capture team in the documentary’s gaze, but also explore the community to understand and delve into the community to delve into the border-oriented behavior towards this large, elusive cat.
Ultimately, despite the success of the capture team and the kindness and integrity of the villagers towards this unusual, majestic cat, the unfortunate fate awaits the species to evacuate the community to meet their needs.
Born in Ilam, Fatra Amiri is a well-known Iranian documentary filmmaker. His passion for art and film began at an early age, leading him to Tehran and pursued his research at Ilibu University, where he earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in film.
In his shocking and realistic documentaries, he has clearly portrayed the lives of animals, people, diverse cultures and social issues. His works have been exhibited multiple times at the prestigious international festival and have won numerous awards. He is also committed to educating and training a new generation of Iranian documentary filmmakers.
Nima Asgari is an environmental and natural resources graduate. He studied filmmaking at the Iranian Youth Film Association, one of Iran’s most prestigious filmmaking associations. He began his job in 2007 at the Iranian Cheetah Association as a researcher and cinematographer on endangered species such as Iranian cheetahs.
His films are primarily about the relationship between humans and nature, and the effects of humans on the extinction of wildlife species. He is currently a leading member of the Wildlife Pictures Institute, making over 30 films and has won numerous awards at international festivals.
Türkiye is one of the wealthiest European countries in terms of wildlife. However, little is known domestically and internationally. One of the best ways to raise awareness about this issue is through documentaries that have artistic power and the ability to reach a wide audience.
Wildlife filmmaking in Türkiye is a profession practiced by a small number of people and a field with a relatively short history. Even if the number of wildlife programs has increased in recent years, it is rarely considered a documentary. Therefore, by holding an International Wildlife Documentary Film Festival, it aims to introduce the world’s leading wildlife filmmakers and crew to Turkish audiences and provide the right way to develop this field for Türkiye.
The Ankara International Wildlife Documentary Film Festival seeks to attract national and international attention to Anatolia’s wildlife, contribute to nature conservation efforts, and support wildlife filmmaking.
Photography: Nima Asgari (second L) and Fatholah Amiri (second R) will be awarding the awards at the closing ceremony of the Ankara International Wildlife Documentary Film Festival on May 18, 2025.
SS/SAB