A Beginning for the Final Songs of a River, 70min., Germany/Iran
Directed by Meysam Oghbaei
Filmed over six years, this documentary follows the changing fate of the Zayandeh Rood river in Iran. Through the perspectives of local farmers and communities, it portrays the environmental and social challenges linked to water use and policies. With a poetic yet reflective tone, the film illustrates the river’s cycle of opening and closing as a metaphor for endurance and hope.

Director Statement
For me, the Zayandeh Rood is more than a river — it is a mirror of a nation’s soul. Over six years, I followed its transformations: the silence of its dry bed and the voices of those whose lives were bound to its waters. This film was born from a profound urge to preserve memory, to capture the fragility of nature, and to reveal how environmental crises intertwine with social realities. My aim was not merely to make a documentary, but to create a poetic testimony — a cinematic song of resilience, loss, and hope.