CARTNEY CITY
In a cold, unfurnished flat in Hamburg, Iranian friends and relatives sketch their forgotten hometown on a cardboard box—each line unlocking memories, losses, and the ache of exile.
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Fun Facts of Movie
Directed by Mostafa Ahmadi. 15min 36sec
Mostafa Ahmadi, born in August 1991, is an Iranian filmmaker, director, and screenwriter who began his artistic career in 2008 in theatre. He holds degrees in Architecture and Film Directing and entered the world of visual media in 2012 by writing, directing, and acting in the TV series Yellow Siren for Mazandaran TV.
In the following years, Ahmadi directed a collection of socially engaged and realist short films, often exploring human crises, moral dilemmas, and powerful yet poignant storytelling.
His short films include:
“Vorteh” (2022), “Saheb Khoon” (2023), “Bagh-e Arghavan” (2023), “Conditional Freedom” (2023), “The Gambler” (2024), “Shahr Kartoni” (Cardboard City) (2025), “BBC” (2024), “The Escape Plan” (2025), “Cold Soil” (2025), and “The Last Hope” (2025).
Director Statement
“CARTNEY CITY“” is not just a story about migration or exile for me; it is an emotional journey into our shared memory. In distance and separation, we rebuild our city over and over again — not with bricks and mortar, but with memories and stories. This film aims to show how even a piece of cardboard can become a bridge between past and present, and how the smallest details — a street corner, a shop, or the smell of fresh bread — can awaken an entire world of emotion. For me, this film stands as proof that no matter how far we are, nothing can sever our roots from the memories that shape us.
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