On October 3, 2012, a volunteer group of residents from Kish Island embarked on a journey to the small Farour Island in the Persian Gulf to collect plastic waste. The presence of plastic debris on the uninhabited island is due to ocean currents, and the concern is about the impact of plastic pollution on the health of marine life and birds in the region. I joined them early in the morning to test a newly purchased camera and experience solo filmmaking. This documentary is the result of capturing images on that day. Later, the Environmental Protection Organization of Iran acquired the rights to broadcast this documentary at the Climate Change Conference in Paris( The United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21) in Paris, France, on 12 December 2015). The documentary was then screened during that international conference in Paris.

Kalling tells the story of Abdulrahman Rahmani, a native fisherman and free diver from Kish Island who collected pearl oysters—locally known as “kalling”—without wages, only basic food. What began as a casual conversation turned into years of filming, revealing not just the diving practices, but the harsh hierarchy and discipline aboard these boats. Beyond documenting pearl diving above and below water, the film explores themes of dignity and survival. Kalling received multiple awards and screened at several festivals, including the Kish Documentary Festival and the Parvin E’tesami International Festival, and aired on national TV. During the final shoots in 1998, I collaborated with Sipa Press photographer Kazem Bayrambakhsh, resulting in rare underwater photos of my directing. It’s been said I may have been the first Iranian woman to make an underwater film—something I never set out to prove, but remain proud of.

Life, Tourism, Trade is a three-part documentary series by Mozhgan Pazooki, commissioned by the Kish Free Zone Organization in 2013. Filmed on Kish Island, Iran, the series explores the island’s transformation using real data, official statistics, and on-the-ground observation. Each episode focuses on a key theme: Life (17:37) captures the social and cultural shifts in everyday life; Tourism (17:37) highlights Kish as a growing travel destination; and Business (15:00) examines the island’s economic development and trade ambitions. Narrated by Zhila Amirshahi, the documentaries were scripted with extensive research and underwent multiple stages of approval. The production team included cinematographers Arastoo Guyi, Jahanbakhsh Mehrbakhsh, Masoud Mesheydi, and Soheil Norouzi; editors Mozhgan Pazooki and Armin Bahari; with animation by Rai Avin Studio.

Men of the Sea: A Tribute to the Fishermen of Kish Island
Dedicated to the Resilient Fishermen of Kish | 2014 | Directed by Mozhgan Pazooki

In October 2014, I was invited to produce a video for a commemoration ceremony honoring the native fishermen of Kish Island. The project involved selecting excerpts from footage I had recorded since 1995. Created as a voluntary tribute, this short film celebrates the resilience, kindness, and strength of the island’s fishermen—men with whom I shared a deep connection during my years living and working on Kish from 1995 to 2019. Their unwavering spirit and dignity left a profound impact on me, and I compiled this piece with great passion and urgency to be screened during the event.