Density of Emptiness

Based on Wim Wenders' unique approach and under his mentorship, six Iranian films were created as part of the “A Sense of Place” project. Social inequality in Iran is clearly evident in the unequal distribution of space in Tehran. The film is based on photographs taken by Tahmineh Monzavi around ten years ago, portraying women in a semi-public shelter in the south of the city. The director contrasts these images with current shots of empty luxury apartment buildings in the affluent north. The combination of voice-over commentary and visual material creates a sober analysis that reveals social disparities in architecture and urban development. The work dispenses with dialogue and is designed as a short documentary film with an essayistic approach. DENSITY OF EMPTINESS, by Iranian director Shirin Barghnavard, was made in 2023 as an international co-production in collaboration with the Wim Wenders Foundation. The film was included in the “Iran: A Sense of Place” program and screened at major international festivals, including CPH:DOX 2023 in Copenhagen, Sheffield DocFest 2023, and Beldocs 2023 in Belgrade. Further stops included DMZ in Korea, the Kerala Documentary and Short Film Festival in India, and Arkipel in Jakarta. In 2025, the work was also included in the program of the Revelation Perth International Film Festival. These presentations positioned the production in the field of independent film as well as experimental film and underscore its significance within contemporary Iranian cinema.