3 Zones

3 Zones investigates three territories shaped by historical conflict and ecological transformation, presenting
them as involuntary natural preserves. These areas—each marked by isolation and contested histories - offer a
stark reflection on the intersection of geopolitics, human displacement, and environmental change.

In the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, Ukrain, the journey traverses a landscape altered by nuclear
catastrophe. From the border of the zone to the ghost town of Pripyat, the radioactive vehicle graveyard, and
the towering DUGA-3 radar, the film captures a space where nature has begun reclaiming an environment
profoundly altered by human error. The zone’s quiet resilience contrasts with the technological remnants that
speak to its industrial past. The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus reveals the deep fractures of a divided
island. Beginning at the Nicosia wall and concluding in the abandoned city of Varosha, the film explores how
political stalemates leave physical scars on landscapes. The juxtaposition of ruins, urban encroachment, and
empty streets highlights the complexity of preserving cultural heritage amid unresolved sovereignty disputes. In
the Mountainous Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh), the narrative follows a path from Yerevan to Agh-
dam via Stepanakert. This contested region, recently reabsorbed by Azerbaijan, reflects the fragile balance of
cultural identity and geopolitical reality. Its abandoned villages and scarred terrain underline the human cost of
territorial struggles.

Shot in black and white, 3 Zones transcends documentary to become a study of how landscapes bear the
weight of history. The work invites reflection on the environmental and political consequences of human ambi-
tion, offering a layered view of territories that exist at the margins of accessibility and recognition.