Synopsis
The Walnut of Knowledge is a layered home movie following Jonah and Niyaz’s yearly journeys from the UK to Iran. Part road movie, part reflection, it traces Jonah’s search for his roots and ancestors, while Niyaz contemplates the meaning of home, belonging, and some unanswered questions. At the heart of it all, an 80-year-old walnut tree in the garden stands as a quiet keeper of wisdom.
Awards
Kodak Cinematic Vision Award, 64th Ann Arbour Film Festival, Michigan, USA, 2026.
Niyaz Saghari
Niyaz Saghari is a Bristol-based British-Iranian filmmaker, who has been directing short experimental documentaries for the last 10 years. She studied film directing at the Art University of Tehran and an M.A. in animation at Newport University. Her films have been screened in festivals, including the Ann Arbour Film Festival, Oberhausen and Alchemy Festivals. The theme of her work is focused on urban and cultural histories of her homeland Tehran and Bristol, with an emphasis on marginal histories and memories. She mainly uses super 8 format and hand develops her films.
Filmography
Uncle Essy (2015), The Missing Commas I & II (2021), +X+=+ (2021),VHS Diaries (2021), The Ripple Effect (2024), The Walnut of Knowledge (2026).
