26 October 2023 – Today at the Hof International Film Festival in Germany, the film “Cause of Death: Unknown” made its European premiere and captivated the audience with its captivating plot. This drama from Iran, directed by Ali Zarnagar, gained notice after being invited to the prestigious Shanghai China Film Festival, where it won the coveted Best Cinematography prize. In addition, the film received nominations for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor, among other categories.

The film’s plot centers on a van transporting seven people as it drives through a remote area between Shahdad and Kerman early in the morning. When they find a passenger who has been dead inside the van, their trip takes an unexpected turn. Emergency services, however, are hesitant to send an ambulance because a medical professional has not formally confirmed the person’s death. In the early morning, with that darkness, finding a doctor seems impossible. Some of the passengers propose taking a car to the closest police patrol to explain what’s happening in this dire situation. They choose to examine the dead man’s body in the hopes of discovering identification, an address, or a cell phone before they arrive at their destination.