Directed by Behrooz Karamizade
Empty Nets (2023)
Amir and Narges have found what feels like true love in their hometown by the coast of the Caspian sea. But in today's Iran that's far from enough to build a life together, and they are forced to keep the relationship secret. To win over Narges' upper class family and pay an appropriate dowry, Amir needs money, and he needs it fast. With his back against the wall, Amir finds work at a local fishery, where he is drawn into the dangerous but lucrative business of black market caviar smuggling. As Amir's values are compromised by the illegal underworld, Narges stalls for time and tries to delay the arranged marriage her parents are planning for her. Can their love, hopes and dreams survive the tightly knit web of tradition, corruption, and social hierarchy that continues to rule over the lives of a new generation in Iran?
featured cast.
festival & awards.
Karlovy Vary IFF, Czech Republic - Crystal Globe Competition - Special Jury Prize
Filmfest Münich, Germany - Best Production Award
Fünf Seen Film Festival, Germany - Horizonte Filmpreis
Filmfestival Münster, Germany
International Human Rights Film Festival Nürnberg, Germany
Zurich Film Festival, Switzerland - Focus Competition
Visions of Iran Köln, Germany
Adelaide Film Festival, Australia - Feature Fiction Award
Pingyao International Film Festival, China - Crouching Tiger Competition - Roberto Rossellini Awards Special Mention
International Film Festival Kinenova, North Macedonia - International Competition
B3 Biennale, Germany
Hessischer Film und Kinopreis, Germany - Newcomer Prize (Behrooz Karamizade)
Biberacher Filmfestspiele, Germany - Competition
Ahrenshooper Filmnächte, Germany - Best Film, Audience Award
Exground Wiesbaden, Germany
Kinofest Lünen, Germany - Competition - Special Mention for Performance (Hamid Reza Abbasi, Sadaf Asgari)
Bosphorus Film Festival, Turkey - Best Actor Prize (Hamid Reza Abbasi)
Chennai International Film Festival, India
Iranian Film Festival Australia, Australia
El Gouna Film Festival, Egypt
Iranian Film Festival New York, USA - Best Film
Festival of Films from Iran (Chicago), USA
Bengaluru International Film Festival, India
San Francisco International Film Festival, USA - Global Visions Honorable Mention