TEHRAN-The Iranian short film “The Thirteen Year” directed by Samad Alizadeh has entered the lineup for the 42nd Uppsala Short Film Festival in Sweden, slated for October 23-29.

The 10-minute film will compete in the international competition section of the festival with movies from Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, and the U.S. among others, Honaronline reported on Monday.

The story revolves around Helia, a teenage girl who is celebrating her 13th birthday. However, her family starts to impose restrictions on her cycling, thinking that she has outgrown it.

A production of 2023, it is produced by the renowned Iranian actor Navid Mohammadzadeh. The screenplay has been written by Alizadeh together with Bahram and Bahman Ark. Samaneh Nourivand plays the main role of the film. 

Esen Studios, a film production company in Italy, is the international distributor of the short work that had its world premiere at the 53rd Giffoni Film Festival in Italy earlier in July.

Alizadeh, 28, won the Best Screenplay award at Tehran International film Festival and Best Short Film award at Zanzibar International film Festival for his first short film “Nahid” (2020). It also got a Special Mention at Freiburg International Film Festival. “The Thirteenth Year” is his second short film.

Founded in 1982, the Uppsala Short Film Festival has since become Sweden’s main arena for short film and one of the most important short film festivals in Europe. Every year the festival screens more than 300 short films in different sections exploring the diversity and richness of the short film – from new film to retrospective programs, from fiction, documentaries and experimental films to animations, and welcoming hybridity beyond these categories.

The festival is recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which means that winning the international or national competition at the festival may make a film eligible for a nomination for an Oscar.

Taking place in the university city of Uppsala, in the city’s classic cinema district, the Uppsala Short Film Festival is a meeting place for audience and film industry. During the seven days of the festival, 300 short films are screened in four cinemas. Buyers, distributors and festival representatives have access to a video library during the festival. The festival offers filmmakers many opportunities to meet their audience, and discussions are held both at the screenings and at special director’s talks.

The festival is a meeting point for the Swedish and international industry, bringing together emerging and established Swedish and international filmmakers in networking and social events, where collaboration can begin.

SS/SAB