TEHRAN – The acclaimed Iranian shorts “Where the Winds Die” and “Graveyard” have been selected to be screened at the 10th edition of IndieCork, the Irish festival of independent film and music.

The festival underway in Cork has been set up as a hybrid event with virtual and live screenings.

Directed by Pejman Alipur, “Where the Winds Die” was produced at the Documentary, Experimental and Animation Film Center.

It is about Iraq’s chemical attack on the Iranian town of Sardasht in 1987.

Iraq bombarded Sardasht in West Azerbaijan Province with chemical weapons on June 28, 1987, killing over 1,000 and injuring over 8,000 civilians, many of whom were permanently disabled.

The film won the award for best animation at 2022 Fantastic and Terror Film Festival – Galacticat in Spain.

“Graveyard” is about one of the common topics, which has been spreading in Iran. It presents a story of a young mother who has lost her baby due to negligence. Furthermore, since the presence of the father is required to obtain burial permission in Iran, the young mother is striving to find her missing husband and, with the passage of time, she becomes more involved in a plethora of serious issues.

Directed by Ali Darai, this film was selected as best short at the 25th Religion Today Film Festival in Italy.

The IndieCork festival opened on October 2 and will run until October 16.

A jury comprising Ana Cabral Martins, Per Fikse and Alexandra Gabrizova will judge the films in the short competition. 

IndieCork live screenings wrapped up on Sunday as the virtual section will run until October 16.

“Freedom Swimmer” by Olivia Martin McGuire from the UK was selected as best short in the international section.

The Louis Marcus Documentary Award went to “Swing and Sway” by Adriana Barbosa and Fernanda Pessoa from Brazil.

Photo: A scene from Iranian director Pejman Alipur’s animated film “Where the Winds Die” about Iraq’s chemical attack on the Iranian town of Sardasht in 1987.

MMS/YAW