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BORDER

The story follows a refugee with one dream in his mind: to cross the "BORDER." He carries his wife's corpse, seeking the border, but instead, he finds himself trapped in a vicious cycle within the forest. Exhausted and confused, his journey turns into a fight for survival when a mysterious hunter steals his wife's body, demanding that he abandon it in exchange for directions to the border. Using a strange concoction made from magic mushrooms, the man brings his deceased wife back to life, desperately clinging to his dream of reaching the border with her.

  • Sasan Kaveh
    Director
  • Ahad Mohammad Karami
    Writer
  • Mira Goodridge
    Producer
  • Joseph J.U Taylor
    Key Cast
    "The Hunter"
    Monkey Man, Life of Time, Lost in Paradise, The Wall of Death
  • Sean Charles Gray
    Key Cast
    "The Man"
  • Valeriia Balbukova
    Key Cast
    "The Wife/Corpse"
  • James D Bowen
    Cinematography
  • Richard James Halstead
    Director's Assistant
  • Abdi Jaya Asmara Gita
    Assistant DOP | Focus Puller
  • Maksim Shatalov
    Gaffer
  • Sherpa Joseph Stephan
    Assistant Lighting
  • Marik Mar
    Sound Recordist
  • Ngakan Modink
    Assistant Sound
  • Dewa Ayu Sri Hartati
    Special Effect Make-Up
  • Kyrylo Marchenko
    Set Designer
  • Sajad Avarand
    Art Advisor
  • Mira Goodridge
    Wardrobe and Props
  • Sasan Kaveh
    Wardrobe and Props
  • Raka Goodridge
    Production Assistant
  • Angga Hamzah Firdaus
    BTS Photographer
  • Alexander Shilikhta
    Drone Pilot
  • Putu Bagus Edo Radit
    Electrical Technician
  • Sasan Kaveh
    Editor
  • Sam Kaveh
    BTS Editor
  • Angga Hamzah Firdaus
    Colourist
  • Alexander Shilikhta
    Colourist
  • Sasan Kaveh
    Music and Sound Design
  • Mehdi Parsi
    Graphic Designer
  • Oleksandra Subotina
    The Muse
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    10 minutes 26 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    March 15, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    3,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Indonesia
  • Country of Filming:
    Indonesia
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    4K Pro Res Raw
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • Bali International Film Festival
    Bali
    Indonesia
    June 7, 2025
    World Premier
    Official Selection
  • Prague Film Festival
    Prague
    Czechia
    April 17, 2026
    International Premiere
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Sasan Kaveh

Mohammad Hossein Kaveh, also known as Sasan Kaveh, is an Iranian filmmaker, sound designer, and actor from Shiraz, Iran. He began his film career in 2005 and has received numerous national and international awards for works including Leakage, Bandar Band, The Great Leap, Behind the Seen and Saka.

BORDER, an indie short film, marks his directorial debut. Inspired by filmmakers Abbas Kiarostami and Akira Kurosawa, Sasan translates complex themes into minimalist cinematic video art. With a keen eye for detail, he captures the world in a raw yet sensitive way.

In addition to directing, Sasan also handled the editing, sound design, and create musical composition for BORDER. A significant aspect of this process was creating the original score with the unique 'Claravox' ensuring an integrated and distinctive auditory experience.

Since 2020, he has lived in Indonesia with his wife, Mira Goodridge, and founded WEFILMBALI an indie production house based in Bali.

Outside of filming, Sasan enjoys jammng music with close friends, cooking Iranian dishes and have fun with his 1980's FJ40.

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Director Statement

Since the day Ahad shared the script, my heart has been bursting with excitement. I'm thrilled that my experience inspired him to create BORDER. Along the way, BORDER has become a magnet for everyone involved-people love the story and are eager to be a part of it.

The production has been a beautiful journey, bringing together cast and crew from different countries, including Ukraine and Russia-two nations currently entangled in conflict. This experience is a testament to the fact that humanity transcends borders and that film can serve as a bridge between cultures.

In contrast, BORDER follows the treacherous journey of a refugee, exposing grief, despair, hopelessness, resilience, and sacrifice. It explores the rawest aspects of human relationships and moral failings, revealing the darkest sides of humanity.

The story incorporates surreal elements and dramatic sound design-like the magic mushrooms that momentarily bring the dead back to life and the haunting sounds of a chasing beast-to underscore the relentless hardship and precarious existence that
refugees endure.

I aim to shine a light on emotional wounds, diving into unsettling and uncomfortable situations, forcing the audience to confront characters whose pain we might not normally feel. I am incredibly proud of our work, and I hold a small but hopeful wish-that BORDER will be powerful enough to remind us to appreciate what we have and to cultivate peace, no matter how small the effort, in order to make the world a better place.

Following its world premiere as an official selection at Bali International Film Festival, BORDER is now successfully engaging audiences as it tours the festival circuit.