Curtains fall on 9th Varesh International Film Festival, Winners Announced

The program was hosted by Mohammadreza Shahidifard.

Several Iranian and international officials, dignitaries, filmmakers and guests attended the closing ceremony.

Full Lineup:

National Competition:

Best Research

Festival Trophy, Diploma of Honor and Cash Prize (4 Million Toman) for Best Research:  Armin Isarian for “Mysteries of the Lake” 

Best Script of Fiction Film

Festival Trophy, Diploma of Honor and Cash Prize (4 Million Toman) for the Best Script of Fiction Film: Reza Jamali for “Sara’s Voice”

Best Directing of Animation Film

Festival Trophy, Diploma of Honor and Cash Prize (5 Million Toman) to the Best Directing of Animation Film: Malihe Gholamzade for “Tangle”

Best Directing of Documentary Film

Festival Trophy, Diploma of Honor and Cash Prize (5 Million Toman) to the Best Directing of Documentary Film: Elham Maroufi for “330cc of Memories”

Best Directing of Fiction Film

Festival Trophy, Diploma of Honor and Cash Prize (5 Million Toman) to the Best Directing of Fiction Film: Fatemeh Tousi for “The American Bull”

Best Film:

Festival Trophy, Diploma of Honor and Cash Prize (6 Million Toman) to the Best Film: Armin Isarian for “Mysteries of the Lake”

Jury Members Special Award:

Jury Members Special Award and Cash Prize (3 Million Toman):  “Burnt Water” by Morteza Motouri

Jury Members Special Award and Cash Prize (3 Million Toman): “Hamja” by Mehdi Qanavati

Jury Members Special Award and Cash Prize (3 Million Toman): “Willed” by Ashkan Khalilnejad 

Tarneh-va Competition:

Animation Section: 

The jury members did not consider any film worthy of the prize.

Fiction Section:

The jury members did not consider any film worthy of the prize.

Documentary Section:

Tarneh-va Trophy and Cash Prize (3 Million Toman): Mohammad Asgarkhahn for directing “Uncle Asadollah (Khalo Assadollah)”

Jury Members Special Award

Jury Members Special Award and Cash Prize (3 Million Toman): Ali Ahmadi Zarrinkolai for directing “Beyond High Cliffs” 

Jury Members Special Award and Cash Prize (3 Million Toman): Vars by Javad Vatani

International Competition Common Heritage:

Fiction:

Best film: “The Crying of Tanbur” by Anisa Sabiri (Russia)

Jury members’ special appreciation for best cinematography: “Faith” by Tatiana Fedorovskaya (Russia)

Animation:

Best film: “The Theory of Sunset” by Roman Sokolov (Russia)

Jury members’ special appreciation: “The Myth of Haftvad Worm” by Asghar Safar (Iran)

Documentary:

Best film: “13 kilometers” by Vitaly Chernov (Kazakhstan) and “How Big Is the Galaxy” by Ksenia Elyan (Russia)

Jury members’ special appreciation for best character: “The Weaver” by Mohammad Ayreek (Afghanistan)

Jury members’ special award for best film: “Takleef – The Day of Duty” by Ali Farahani (Iran)

Special Section Hirkani Forests

Festival Best Film Award, UNESCO diploma and Cash Prize (4 Million Toman): Yaser Talebi for directing “Last Breath”

Festival Best Award for Directing a Documentary Film, UNESCO Diploma and Cash Prize (3 Million Toman): Reza Majlesi for directing “Where Do We Go?”

VIFF Secretary’s Special Award:

Festival Secretary’s Special Award and Cash Prize (3 Million Toman): Shahrooz Tavakol for directing “Navajesh”

Festival Secretary’s Special Award and Cash Prize (3 Million Toman): Hadi Ahmadi for directing “Dada Saltaneh”

Davoud Rashidi Award:

Davoud Rashidi Award was presented to Ali Donyavi Saravi.

Iranian Critics and Writers Association Award:

Trophy for Best Film: “Mysteries of the Lake” by Armin Isarian, “Willed” by Ashkan Khalilnejad

Iranian Short Film Association (ISFA) Award:

Trophy for Best Film: “The American Bull” by Fatemeh Tousi

Documentary Filmmakers Directors Guild Award:

Trophy for Best Film: “Sons of Sinbad” by Reza Haeri

Head of Policymaking Council of VIFF, Mahamoud Shalouei, Special Award:

Trophy for Best Film: “Lotus” by Mohammadreza Vatandoust.