TEHRAN – Filmmaker Feryal Behzad was honored on Saturday with a lifetime achievement award during the 31st International Film Festival for Children and Youth underway in the central Iranian city of Isfahan.

The honoring ceremony for Behzad, the director of acclaimed films such as “Kakoli”, “The Valley of Butterflies” and “The Invisible Man”, was held at Felestin Cinema, the organizers announced.

“My main reason behind my interest in children’s cinema is that I am the mother of two children,” she said after receiving her award.

“I have always liked to make something to entertain them. I made ‘Kakoli’ when I had one child and the story took place in the old days of Isfahan,” she added.

“I do like fantasy films. One thing children can do is to make films about their dreams. Everything in real life is actually rooted in these dreams of mankind,” she concluded.

In his short speech, filmmaker Vahid Nikkhah-Azad called Behzad a pioneer in making films for children and announced her plan again to make a new film in Isfahan after many years have passed. 

He expressed his hope to see Behzad with her new movie attending the festival next year.

The 31st International Film Festival for Children and Youth will be running until September 5.

RM/MMS/YAW