Collecting Shadows directed by Iskander Guliev.

Collecting Shadows: An Object Lesson in Obsession

Collecting Shadows, the debut short film of Azerbaijani writer-director Iskander Guliev, is a 25- minute psychological noir born from the director’s long-standing fascination with analogue photography. Rather than simply using photography as a backdrop, the film explores the medium itself—its beauty, its rituals and its darker implications.

The project grew from several personal inspirations. Guliev’s own experience with film photography became its emotional starting point, while Susan Sontag’s On Photography offered a philosophical foundation. Her observation that photographing people can become an act of symbolic possession inspired the central character: a photographer whose artistic devotion gradually transforms into obsession.

Every element of the film is designed to immerse the audience in the photographer’s perspective. The intimate 4:3 aspect ratio, restrained camera movement, black-and-white sequences and analogue-inspired colour grading reflect how the protagonist experiences the world. Sound also plays a central role, with the mechanical rhythms of the camera becoming an essential storytelling device. The original score by U.S.-based composer Pano deepens the psychological atmosphere and draws viewers further into the photographer’s increasingly fragile state of mind.

Produced with limited resources, Collecting Shadows was created by an international cast and crew whose members came from Azerbaijan, Denmark, Latvia, Russia, Ukraine and the United States. Filming spanned three cities in two countries—Istanbul and Kusadasi in Turkey, and Riga in Latvia—requiring extensive travel, numerous locations and meticulous preparation. Careful planning was essential to make the most of every shooting day. Despite the logistical challenges, the diverse backgrounds of the team became one of the project’s greatest strengths, enriching the creative process while bringing everyone together around a shared artistic vision.