Vital

Writer (Story by), Director, Producer: Amir Zargara

Writer (Story by, Written by): Gabe Berry
Producers: Iman Tahsin, Sara Nasrabadi

Director of Photography: Jelan Maxwell
Composer: Kamyar Behbahani

Editor: Iman Tahsin
Sound Designer, Sound Mixer: Amir Mohabbati

Production Sound Mixer: Sara Nasrabadi

Art Director: Elem Tilev

VITAL explores the contrasts between Iran, where the legal trade of human organs is a stark socio-economic reality, and the United States, which faces its own ethical debates over organ donation. It also mirrors my journey as an Iranian-Canadian filmmaker living in North America, confronting the disparities I’ve seen in both worlds.

Having spent equal parts of my life in Iran and North America, I feel uniquely positioned to examine these opposing realities. The organ trade in VITAL becomes a metaphor for my complicated relationship with Iran. Even though I’ve left, I continue to “harvest” its symbolic organs—stories that fuel my filmmaking but also reveal the emotional conflict of distancing myself from a place that still defines me.

VITAL is more than a narrative; it’s an exploration of the ethical dilemmas surrounding organ trade. By focusing on the decisions of a mother and father fighting for their children’s survival, the film underscores the shared humanity at the center of this issue—an empathy that transcends borders. Through these personal stories, I hope to prompt audiences to reconsider their perceptions of those whose experiences differ from their own, ultimately highlighting how socioeconomic realities shape our moral choices.