Free screening as part of the 2026 Immersia festival, celebrating the cultures, traditions and languages of Asia and the Pacific. Learn more about the festival and find out what's on at immersia.anu.edu.au

An ancient nomadic way of life hangs precariously in the balance in Kasimir Burgess’s sweeping Australian documentary. The narrative tracks two courageous young friends, Tsagana (Tsagana) and Batbold (Batbold), as they take on the daunting responsibility of reviving a sacred coming-of-age ritual that has all but vanished due to rapid modern urbanisation. Their monumental task involves driving a massive herd of two thousand semi-wild horses across the treacherous, snow-swept Tsakhir Valley. Over four grueling months, the duo must endure catastrophic blizzards and predatory wolf packs during the region's deadliest winter on record.

Burgess expertly balances raw high-stakes survival with deeply poetic wilderness imagery to craft an unforgettable cinematic journey that must be experienced on the big screen. Following a highly anticipated world premiere at the Visions du Réel festival in Switzerland, this magnificent production earned widespread acclaim around the world.