The press conference for the Iranian feature film “The Bridge,” directed by Mohammad Asgari and produced by Seyed Mostafa Ahmadi, was held on Monday, December 1, at Honar Shahr Aftab Cineplex in Shiraz, as part of the 43rd Fajr International Film Festival. Screenwriter Pedram Karimi, along with actors Rouhollah Zamani and Saman Safari, attended the session and spoke about the film’s themes and production process.
“The Bridge” is screening in the International Competition section of the festival. Written by Asgari and Karimi, the film is set during the Iran-Iraq War and follows teenage Mousa, who embarks on a dangerous journey in search of his missing brother. Along the way, he encounters an enemy infant in the midst of battle, forcing him to choose between vengeance and humanity as he attempts to protect the child and reunite it with its family.
At the beginning of the session, director Mohammad Asgari explained that the idea for the film emerged from a desire to explore war through nature rather than conventional battlefield settings. He noted that instead of trenches and front lines, the story is set on the Kheibar Bridge, known as the world’s longest floating bridge. According to Asgari, the bridge became the setting where the film’s central human relationships take shape. He added that developing the screenplay took approximately four to five months.
Referring to his previous films, Asgari said that his debut feature “Mud Room” focused on the first day of the war, while his second film “The West Sky” explored the same period through an aerial geography. In contrast, “The Bridge” is set on water and takes place in the middle of the war. He described filming on water as one of the most challenging experiences in filmmaking, noting that he had not anticipated the extent of its technical and physical difficulties.
Asgari further explained that the film’s main narrative follows a protagonist searching for his brother, a journey that leads him into an unfamiliar environment where there is no shared language. He described this as a moment of moral choice, one that allows the character to continue living and ultimately reach a form of personal transformation.
Emphasizing the film’s humanistic perspective, Asgari said the story seeks to highlight the universal importance of life across different cultures. He noted that the characters are driven by a desire to preserve life, even to the extent of protecting an enemy infant during wartime. According to him, the film portrays humanity within the chaos of war, presenting characters whose actions reflect compassion rather than pure aggression.
Screenwriter Pedram Karimi also spoke during the session, recalling his previous collaboration with Asgari on “Mud Room.” He said they were eager to work together again, a partnership that resulted in “The Bridge.” Karimi acknowledged that both writing and directing a film set on water posed significant challenges, but expressed satisfaction with the final outcome.
Karimi added that the story is inspired by real events that took place in the Hawizeh Marshes. He explained that while the core incident is based on reality, the creative team shaped it into a dramatic narrative suited for cinematic storytelling and audience engagement.
The 43rd Fajr International Film Festival is being held in Shiraz from November 26 to December 3, 2025, welcoming filmmakers and cinema lovers from across the globe for a rich lineup of films and events. The winners of the competitive sections will be revealed on Tuesday evening, December 2, at a ceremony taking place at the festival house.
