Why it matters:
This year’s festival emphasized reflective storytelling, with several entries linked to the “My Homeland” campaign. Minister of Culture Abbas Salehi praised the young generation of filmmakers for bridging creativity and intellect.
Key awards:
Best Single Photo: Ali Hosseini-Far (Gold), Aziz Babat-Nejad (Silver), Ali Razavian (Bronze)
Best Photo Series: Majid Hojjati and Asghar Besharati
Best Tehran Photo: Amirhossein Armand (Gold), Ali Azar (Silver), Hamidreza Helali (Bronze)
Best Adapted Short Film: Samad Ghorbanzadeh for “Agh Bash”
Best Animation: Mirali Hosseini Asli for “Without Him & 2002”; Honorary Diploma to Sara Alimoradi for “Birds of Prey”
What they’re saying:
“This festival was held under extraordinary circumstances,” Salehi said. “It showcased the strength of our people and the depth of our cinema.”
The bottom line:
Tehran’s short film scene continues to thrive, blending national memory with artistic innovation, even in times of crisis.
Hossein Amiri - A.Akbari
