Iranian Documentary Kalling to Screen in Melbourne,
Followed by Q&A with Filmmaker Mozhgan Pazooki
Film Art Media and WIFT Vic are proud to present a special screening of the documentary film Kalling (کالینگ), followed by a Q&A session with the film’s director, Mozhgan Pazooki, moderated by Sue Maslin AO. The event will take place on Sunday, November 9, 2025, at 3:30 PM at Cinema Nova in Carlton.
Kalling is a 23-minute documentary exploring the traditional pearl-diving industry in Iran and the exploitation of native free divers on Kish Island. The film represents a historic achievement as the first underwater documentary made by an Iranian woman, directed under restricted conditions within the framework of Islamic regulations.
“Kalling, my short documentary, takes its name from the word used by the local people of Kish Island in the Persian Gulf for pearl oysters. It tells the story of their unique tradition of free-diving for pearls, which I am honoured to share with Melbourne audiences.” – Mozhgan Pazooki, Iranian documentary filmmaker
"Supporting filmmakers like Mozhgan Pazooki is at the heart of what we do at WIFT Vic. Kalling not only honours an extraordinary tradition but also demonstrates the importance of creating space for women to tell their stories on their own terms. We are delighted to help share her vision with Australian audiences.” – Lauren Simpson, President, WIFT Vic
Tickets are available for purchase at:
https://events.humanitix.com/kalling-screening
Event Details:
· What: Screening of Kalling (کالینگ) + In Conversation with filmmaker Mozhgan Pazooki
· When: Sunday, November 9, 2025, 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM AEDT
· Where: Cinema Nova, 380 Lygon St, Carlton VIC 3053, Australia
· Tickets: General Admission $15 | Concession $10
· Hosted by: Film Art Media & WIFT Vic
For further information, please contact: sue@filmartmedia.com
About the Director – Mozhgan Pazooki
Mozhgan Pazooki is an award-winning Iranian documentary filmmaker, writer, and researcher with over 32 years of experience. With academic training in law, microbiology, and documentary filmmaking, she began her career in the scientific department of Iran’s national broadcaster, where she produced three radio series and three television documentary series on science and education, including more than 35 interview-based documentaries featuring renowned Iranian scientists and artists—viewed by millions. She was twice voted Best TV Documentary Director by a public poll for her acclaimed series Mafakhere Iran Emrooz (“Distinguished Figures of Contemporary Iran”).
From 1994 to 2019, she worked independently on Kish Island, producing cultural and environmental films—including Kalling, one of the first underwater documentaries by an Iranian woman in full hijab. The film was widely broadcast and screened at festivals. Her 2015 documentary Farourgan Island was also featured at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP21) in Paris.
Since 2019, based in Melbourne, Australia, Mozhgan has continued to create documentary films, testimonial works, and research-driven projects exploring identity and migration. During Melbourne’s lockdowns, she pioneered remote productions with online documentaries such as Connecting Conversations for AMES Victoria, which premiered in 2021 at Melbourne’s Multicultural Hub.
Lifecycle of Film – Documentary Filmmaking Panel - ACMI Melbourne 2025
On March 23, 2025, Mozhgan Pazooki was invited as an expert speaker at the Lifecycle of Film event, held at Swinburne Studio, ACMI, Federation Square, Melbourne.
This special session, "Documentary Filmmaking: Producing and Directing," was co-led by renowned Australian filmmaker Hollie Fifer and Mozhgan Pazooki, with moderation by Jeanie Davison.
Organised by Women in Film and Television Victoria (WIFT Vic) in collaboration with the Melbourne Women in Film Festival (MWFF), the event brought together emerging and established voices in the screen industry for an intimate roundtable format—fostering discussion, mentorship, and professional exchange on key aspects of the documentary filmmaking process.
As part of this international collaboration, Mozhgan shared insights from over two decades of experience producing and directing films that explore identity, legacy, and human connection through powerful storytelling.
This event formed part of a broader initiative to support women in screen across all stages of production, and welcomed a global community of creatives and change-makers.
Film Premiere at Melbourne's Multicultural Hub:
Connecting Conversations, English classes during Covid-19.
Farourgan Island (Green Film)
Screened at the United Nations Climate Change Conference – COP21, Paris, 2015
In 2015, I directed a short environmental documentary highlighting a volunteer-led cleanup operation on Farourgan Island, located in the Persian Gulf. Sponsored by the Kish Free Zone Organization and Iran’s Department of Environment – Marine Affairs, the film documents the efforts of Kish Island residents who traveled to the uninhabited island to collect plastic waste carried ashore by ocean currents. Their initiative focused on raising awareness about the harmful effects of plastic pollution on marine ecosystems and birdlife.
Shot in a single day using a newly acquired camera, this film marked one of my early experiments with solo documentary filmmaking. Following its completion, the documentary was selected for official screening at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21) held in Paris, France, on December 12, 2015. It was presented by the Environmental Protection Organization of Iran as part of their climate action showcase.
International Premiere
Morteza Momayez: A Legacy in Design
Toronto, Canada, 2018
In 2018, Mozhgan Pazooki organized the international premiere of her documentary on Morteza Momayez—widely regarded as the father of Iranian graphic design—in Toronto, Canada. The event was held in collaboration with the Iranian Canadian Visual Arts Association and brought together a community of artists and designers. Following the screening, Pazooki participated in an engaging Q&A session, where she discussed the creative process and responded to insightful questions from fellow visual artists.
The documentary highlights the life and legacy of Morteza Momayez, a pioneering figure in Iranian design, co-founder of the Iranian Graphic Design Society (IGDS), and a member of the prestigious Alliance Graphique Internationale (AGI). Momayez served as President of the Tehran International Poster Biennial and was the founding Editor-in-Chief of Neshan, a leading graphic design publication. His impact on visual culture, education, and professional institutions continues to resonate within the global design community.
Film Premiere: Connecting Conversations – English Classes During COVID-19
Melbourne, Australia | March 23, 2021
In April 2020, as the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic peaked, face-to-face English conversation classes at AMES Australia were suspended to curb the spread of the virus. For a group of around 10 recently arrived migrants and their volunteer tutors—who had previously gathered at the City of Melbourne’s Multicultural Hub—this sudden isolation posed a new challenge in an unfamiliar city.
Determined to stay connected, the group transitioned to online sessions, meeting twice a week over the course of nine months of lockdown. Among them was celebrated Iranian documentary filmmaker Mozhgan Pazooki, who participated in the classes and was deeply moved by the solidarity, resilience, and sense of community that emerged.
Filmed entirely online, her documentary Connecting Conversations captures the emotional and practical support shared among the group. It stands as a powerful testament to human connection in times of crisis and celebrates the quiet strength of individuals facing uncertainty together.
Sharing My Journey with Media Students,
I am delighted to have supported Amjad Ali Baeshen, a Master’s student in Media and Communication at Swinburne University, in completing her assignment.This short video was produced by Amjad as part of her coursework, and I am pleased that my professional journey could serve as material for her project. In the midst of my current circumstances, one of the true joys of my life is to assist students of media and film by sharing my experiences and knowledge with them. Collaborations like this remind me of the importance of passing on insights to the next generation of filmmakers.
Mozhgan Pazooki, Crafting Stories That Dive Deep Into New Meaning of Culture and Resilience.