TEHRAN-Fifteen Iranian films are competing in different sections of Ahmedabad International Children Film Festival (AICFF), which is currently underway in the Indian city. 

“Life & Life” directed by Ali Qavitan, “Balit” by Morteza Rahimi, “For the Sake of Ava” by Mohsen Seraji and “In the Arms of a Tree” by Babak Khajehpasha are on screen at the main section of the festival. 

“Life & Life” follows a teacher who is concerned about the students who have not attended online classes during the COVID-19 pandemic. She decides to visit them. She buckles her four-year-old daughter into the car and takes off for the students’ houses. Her goal for this trip is to look in on the students, but she has another purpose. She tells her daughter about her own life, and the girl begins to understand the world as she meets other people.

“Balit” is about a boy named Balit, who lost his father when he was very young. His mother has been forced into an arranged marriage. Balit now begins a search to find his mother.

“For The Sake of Ava” is a story about a group of teenage girls who are part of a theater group and are trying to attend a festival abroad. Ava, an Iranian-Afghan immigrant, is the main actress in the group and is struggling to obtain a passport. The film highlights the challenges and resilience of young artists pursuing their dreams in the face of adversity.

“In the Arms of the Tree” is about a crisis in the relations between Kimia and Farid that disturbs the peace of their children’s lives.

“Pari and the Witch”    by Mohammadreza Yarikia, “I’m A Man” by Amin Ali Shahsavari, “She Sees Me” by Maryam Mahani, “Gladiators” by Maryam Rahimi and “The Mattress” by Arash Hassanpour are among the short films competing at the festival. 

In the documentary section, “Water, Wind, Dust & Bread” by Mehdi Zamanpur, “Angels Never Back on Earth” and “In the Shelter of Galvanized Tankers”, both directed by Reza Qolami Motlaq will go on screen. 

“Stars In the Rain” by Sarah Namju, “Swing Machine” by Najmeh Hashemolhosseini and “The Birthday” by     Zohreh Abbasi will go on screen at the animation section of the festival. 

Ahmedabad International Children Film Festival will come to an end on December 10. 

Photo: A scene from “In the Arms of a Tree” by Iranian director Babak Khajehpasha

SAB/