TEHRAN – The Spanish documentary “Outtakes” (“Descartes”) has won the Grand Prix at the 39th Tehran International Short Film Festival (TISFF).

Co-directed by Concha Barquero and Alejandro Alvarado, the film brings the forgotten images of a banned film to life on the screen after 40 years.

The filmmakers visited the Spanish Cinemathèque in 2016 to search for information for a project on the documentary film “Rocío”, which had been censored in the early 1980s. There were 260 rolls of 16mm negative among the materials deposited in its warehouses. They were the outtakes from the editing, footage that was left out of the final version.

In a video message screened during the closing ceremony of the festival held on Monday at Milad Tower, Barquero and Alvarado expressed their happiness for winning the award and thanked the organizers and the jury.

The jury was comprised of Romanian director Mirona Radu, Lithuanian programmer Edvinas Puksta, Turkish filmmaker Tahsin Isbilen, Portugal’s Curtas Vila do Conde short film festival representative Sergio Gomes and Iranian cinematographer Mahmud Kalari.

“Absence” by French director Marc Hericher was selected as best animated film.

It is about a homeless man, who collapses violently on the ground, and remains frozen on all fours. The journalists’ sudden interest in this man takes us into a grotesque and absurd media vortex. 

The award for best documentary went to “Heimat” by Italian filmmaker Giovanni Montagnana. This film follows a soldier, surrounded by the enemy and permanently trapped in the city, who writes his last letter home.

“Basin of Attraction” was awarded as best experimental film.

Directed by Jonathan Pêpe from France, the film presents itself as a fake wild-life documentary. The film questions the sacred relationship to objects and the different statuses conferred upon them throughout their lives. Precious objects – votive offerings from the National Etruscan Museum in Villa Giulia – ornaments from churches or Roman sculptures, as well as contemporary detritus come together and evolve together in a kind of amniotic fluid.

The award for best fiction was given to “Old Windows” by English director Paul Holbrook.

It tells the story of a struggling cafe owner, who is intrigued when a mysterious, elderly stranger takes an interest in her life.

In a video message, Holbrook said that for him, it seemed like a dream to win an award from the festival. He also praised the festival and thanked the organizers.

The best audience film award went to the Iranian war drama “Black Soda” by Mohammad Paydar.

In the national competition, the award for best experimental was given to “Breakfast” by Morteza Farhadnia, while “I’m Back Alive” by Mojtaba Heidari was selected as best documentary.

“The Sprayer” by Farnush Abedi won the award for best animated film and “Andarva” by Amir Pazirofteh was picked as best fiction film.

Photo: A video message by Co-directors Alejandro Alvarado and Concha Barquero is screened during the closing ceremony of the 39th Tehran International Short Film Festival at Milad Tower on October 24, 2022 after their movie “Outtakes” won the Grand Prix. (IRNA/Asghar Khamseh)

MMS/YAW