The special programme “Shared Horizons: Cinema Across the ECO Countries” will be presented as part of the 43rd Tehran International Short Film Festival, bringing together eight short films from across the region that explore human experiences, social challenges, cultural memory and resilience.
The programme is scheduled for Tuesday, 20 October 2026, at 3:00 p.m. in Hall 3 of Mellat Cineplex, Tehran. The ECO Cultural Institute is supporting and accompanying the initiative.
The selected films offer diverse perspectives on life across the region, from remote villages and family relationships to environmental concerns, historical conflict and the consequences of natural disasters. Together, they highlight both the cultural diversity of ECO countries and the human experiences that connect their societies.
The programme includes the following films:
* “Murder Tongue” – Pakistan: Directed by Ali Sohail Jaura, this 2022 film, running 17 minutes, explores ethnic violence and unrest in Karachi in 1992 and their impact on a family.
* “The Price of One Mistake” – Kyrgyzstan: Directed by Toktomush Jekshenbay Uulu, this 10-minute film from 2016 follows children in a village facing a shortage of safe drinking water as they travel long distances to collect water for their families.
* “The Address” – Türkiye: Directed by Aram Dildar, this 15-minute film from 2022 tells the story of a teacher who returns to his hometown only to discover that his village does not appear on any map or official record.
* “And Then There Was Silence” – Uzbekistan: Directed by Dante Rustav, this five-minute experimental animation from 2024 explores the gradual disappearance of water and sound through the interplay of memory, sound and water.
* “Epilogue” – Kazakhstan: Directed by Damir Abilkhanov, this 30-minute film from 2023 portrays a family confronting the emotional and practical challenges of caring for an elderly woman in the final days of her life.
* “My Name Is Oil” – The Republic of Azerbaijan: Directed by Igor Smola, this 14-minute film from 2025 centres on industrial equipment at an offshore oil platform attempting to warn of an impending disaster.
* “Gulab Gul” – Afghanistan: Directed by Samah Sagman, this 11-minute film from 2023 follows a boy in a remote mountain village who, despite physical limitations and the hardships of daily life, faces the prospect of losing his only caregiver.
* “Voices of the Mountains” – Tajikistan: This 10-minute animated documentary from 2025, created with the participation of young Tajik writers, uses drawings and personal narratives to portray life in a mountain town affected by mudslides and landslides.
Through themes ranging from water scarcity and environmental hazards to historical violence, isolation, family bonds and resilience, the films offer a multifaceted portrait of the region. The programme also highlights cinema’s role in fostering intercultural dialogue and creating opportunities for audiences to discover the perspectives and stories of filmmakers from neighbouring countries.
Date: Tuesday, 20 October 2026
Time: 3:00 p.m.
Venue: Hall 3, Mellat Cineplex, Tehran
Festival: 43rd Tehran International Short Film Festival