TEHRAN-The Iranian short film “Coal,” directed by Saman Lotfian, has been selected by the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival in the International Competition section in its upcoming edition due to be held from February 2 to 9 in Clermont-Ferrand, France.

Lotfian’s debut directorial work will have its international premiere at the prestigious French festival, IRNA reported.

In the 2023 movie, Eesa and Mokhtar, miners, get into a fight. Eesa pushes Mokhtar and makes him fall. Mokhtar's oxygen tank starts leaking, without anyone noticing. Eesa discovers methane gas and saves some people, but Mokhtar dies due to an empty tank. Eesa, torn, faces a choice: lie and become a hero or confess everything and carry the weight of killing Mokhtar.

The cast of the short flick includes Sajad Afsharian, Nasrollah Radesh, Mehdi Miami, and Mahmonir Bitari among others. 

Basically a cinematographer, Lotfian is known for “When the Moon Was Full” (2019), “Drown” (2020), “Atabai” (2020), “Pinto” (2021), “Squad of Girls” (2022), and “Endless Borders” (2023).

Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival has been the biggest short film festival for 40 years, the essential meeting place for spectators, professionals, youngsters, and school children. Audiences have a choice of 600 films, across all sections, and the three competitions (National, International, and Lab). The programming team receives each year more than 7000 short film submissions. In terms of audience and professional presence, it is the second-largest film festival in France after Cannes.

SS/SAB