Tajik film 'Tavalludi Digar' wins three awards at Bishkek International Film Festival

The Tajik-American feature film "Tavalludi Digar" (Another/New Birth) has garnered significant international recognition, securing three awards at the Bishkek International Film Festival held in Kyrgyzstan from June 7 to June 12. The film, a 2025 co-production involving Tajikistan, the United States, and Qatar, was showcased alongside works from over 30 countries.

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The film's title is drawn from a line in a poem by renowned Iranian poet Forugh Farrokhzad.

"Tavalludi Digar" earned accolades for Best Actress, with awards presented to Shukrona Navruzbekova and Shoira Abdulghaoskhonova. Additionally, the film was honored with a prize from the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI). The festival's industry platform, Bars in Progress, also recognized the film's director, Isabelle Kalandar, presenting her with the Grand Prix for a new project currently in development. This new endeavor is intended as a conceptual follow-up to "Tavalludi Digar."

The film, which premiered in competition at the 2025 Busan International Film Festival, tells the story of Parastou, an imaginative eight-year-old girl. Driven by a desire to find her long-lost father and alleviate her grandfather Boboali's grief, Parastou embarks on a journey. Accompanied by her friend Guliston, they travel through mountainous landscapes, encountering elements that blur the lines between reality and folklore, including mythical figures and ancient sites.

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childhood is described as 'the great moment of farewell.'

Shot on location in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO), the film's narrative is deeply influenced by the poetry of Forugh Farrokhzad. Film critic Amber Wilkinson noted that the title itself is drawn from Farrokhzad's work, reflecting themes of childhood and farewell. The film incorporates Farrokhzad's poems throughout the narrative, presented from a child's perspective, which Wilkinson described as a bold artistic choice that adds depth but also complexity for the audience.

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the film frequently adopts the child’s perspective, with the camera often presenting events through Parastou’s eyes.

Isabelle Kalandar, the writer and director based in New York, is currently working on her "On Exile" trilogy, which includes "Tavalludi Digar" and a 2025 short film titled "The Wall." "Another Birth" is the first installment of this trilogy.

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Poems by Farrokhzad are woven throughout the narrative and are recited by various characters.