Iron Winter

Seeking to keep a centuries-old tradition alive, two friends battle extreme conditions as they herd 2000 horses through the icy Mongolian steppes.

Over the generations, as winter approaches and snow descends on Tsakhir Valley in Mongolia, herders have led thousands of horses on long treks across the frozen steppes to find fresh pastures to graze in. For young Batbold and his older and more experienced companion Tsagaana, this is both a job and an opportunity to reconnect with the traditions of their nomadic ancestors, including assembling yurts, cooking meals and competing in age-old horseback sporting contests. But during their four-month journey through severe landscapes and temperatures that reach minus 50 degrees Celsius, they and the horses they’ve sworn to protect will face the twin dangers of hypothermia and wolf attacks. The gruelling expedition promises to be a transformative experience for Batbold – but with the comforts of the city serving as an ever-present lure, it may also be his last.

Supported by the MIFF Premiere Fund and debuting in competition at Visions du Réel, this mesmerising documentary from Kasimir Burgess (Franklin, MIFF 2022) captures a fading tradition at the intersection of rural life and modern technology. A real-life story of camaraderie and survival, Iron Winter is a remarkable window into one of the world’s most breathtaking and forbidding environments, as well as the immediate threats posed by catastrophic climate change.

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