Cause of Death: Unknown to Compete at the Asian World Film Festival 2025
Cause of Death: Unknown, written and directed by Ali Zarnegar and produced by Majid Barzegar, represents Iran at the 2026 Academy Awards and will compete
Iran’s Official Submission for the 2026 Academy Awards
13 wins & 14 nominations total
Cause of Death: Unknown
Stars:
Banipal Shoomoon, Alireza Sani Far, Neda Jebreili, Ali Mohammad Radmanesh, Zakieh Behbahani, Reza Amouzad, Soheil Bavi
Genre:
Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Psychological Drama
Running: 1h44
Peess Materials
Film Poster
Press Kit
Film Stills
Promotional Visuals
Videos
Trailer – DCP Format
Trailer – QuickTime Format
Note: If the download does not start automatically after clicking a link, please contact us at contact@raftfilms.com
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Someone died, we are seven and there is also a body here.
synopsis
A van with seven passengers journeys through the barren Lut Desert when a grim situation unfolds: one of their fellow travelers has died. With no access to a medical professional to issue an official death certificate, emergency services refuse to send an ambulance. As darkness falls, the chance of locating a doctor becomes increasingly remote. Left with few options, the group debates driving to the nearest police patrol for assistance. But before they can act, they search the deceased’s belongings for identification or contact details, uncovering a startling discovery that intensifies their crisis.
Film Stills
Technical Details
Director – Ali Zarnegar
Screenplay – Ali Zarnegar
Producer – Majid Barzegar
First Assistant Director – Siavash Ramazanloo
Cinematography – Davood Malek Hosseini
Sound Design – Alireza Alavian
Editing – Hamid Najafirad
Production Design – Mohammadreza Mirzamohamadi
Costume Design – Mohammadreza Mirzamohamadi
Production Manager – Mohammad Jafari
Unit Manager – Ashkan Ashoori
Associate Producer – Easa Habibzadeh (Music & Associate Producer)
Formats
Video : ProRes 422 HQ / DCP (1080p & 4K)
Audio : Dolby Digital 5.1
Achievements
Winner – Best Achievement in Directing – Iran Cinema Celebration – Tehran, Iran – 2025
Winner – Best Motion Picture of the Year – Iran Cinema Celebration – Tehran, Iran – 2025
Winner – Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role – Iran Cinema Celebration – Tehran, Iran – 2025
Winner – Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role – Iran Cinema Celebration – Tehran, Iran – 2025
Nomination – Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role – Iran Cinema Celebration – Tehran, Iran – 2025
Nomination – Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role – Iran Cinema Celebration – Tehran, Iran – 2025
Nomination – Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role – Iran Cinema Celebration – Tehran, Iran – 2025
Nomination – Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role – Iran Cinema Celebration – Tehran, Iran – 2025
Winner – The Best Film – Iran Cinema Celebration – Tehran, Iran – 2025
Winner – The Best Director – Iran Cinema Celebration – Tehran, Iran – 2025
Winner – The Best Screenplay – Iran Cinema Celebration – Tehran, Iran – 2025
Winner – The Best Actor – Iran Cinema Celebration – Tehran, Iran – 2025
Winner – The Best Actor in a Supporting Role– Iran Cinema Celebration – Tehran, Iran – 2025
Nomination – The Best Sound in a Supporting Role– Iran Cinema Celebration – Tehran, Iran – 2025
Official Selection – The Best Film – Girona International Film Festival – Girona, Spain – 2024
Official Selection – The Best Film – The Pigeon International Film Festival (PIFF) – isafjordur, Iceland – 2024
Official Selection – The Best Film – Monadnock International Film Festival– New Hampshire, U.S.- 2024
Award – Torino Underground Cinefest– Torino, Italy – 2024
Award – Iranian Film Festival of Zürich (IFFZ)– Zürich, Switzerland – 2024
Official Selection – The Best Film – Salento International Film Festival– Lecce, Italy – 2024
Official Selection – The Best Film – ÍRÁN:CI Film Festival– Prague, Czech Republic – 2024
Nominated – The Best Film – Shanghai International Film Festival– Shanghai, China – 2023
Nominated – The Best Director – Shanghai International Film Festival– Shanghai, China – 2023
Winner – The Best Cinematography – Shanghai International Film Festival– Shanghai, China – 2023
Nominated – The Best Actor – Shanghai International Film Festival– Shanghai, China – 2023
News
No one knows anyone | Cause of Death: Unknown
The Iranian feature Cause of Death: Unknown, directed by Ali Zarnegar and produced by Majid Barzegar, has been officially selected as Iran’s submission for the
“Cause of Death: Unknown” Chosen as Iran’s Oscar Entry
The Iranian drama Cause of Death: Unknown, directed by Ali Zarnegar, has officially been selected by Iran’s national committee as the country’s representative for the
Cause of Death: Unknown; A Journey into the Soul of a Nation
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