TEHRAN – Iranian director Ebrahim Hatamikia’s political drama “The Bodyguard” won three awards at the Vienna Independent Film Festival, the organizers announced on Friday.

The films brought Hatamikia the awards for best director and best art direction and its star Babak Hamidian received the award for best supporting actor during the closing ceremony of the event.

The film tells the story of a middle-aged bodyguard who protects a politician from a suicide bomber, and then begins to question his dedication to his job.

The grand prix of the event went to “Million Loves in Me” directed by Sampson Yuen from Hong Kong, while “Platonov” by German director Andreas Morell was named best film.

John Yiu was crowned best actor for his role in “Million Loves in Me”, which also won the award for best original screenplay by Yiu, Tiong Wooi Lim and Jeremy Tan.

“Forgiveness” by Lebanese director Rima Irani won the best short film award and “Chasing Stars” directed by Markus Eichenberger from Switzerland and “The Writer with No Hands” by British filmmaker William Westaway shared the award for best documentary film. 

Photo: Ebrahim Hatamikia (L) directs Babak Hamidian in a scene from “The Bodyguard”.

MMS/YAW