TEHRAN-Iranian movie “Cold Sigh” written and directed by Nahid Azizi Sedigh won an award at the closing ceremony of the 22nd Ischia Film Festival in Italy, on July 6.

The best cinematography award was given to Masoud Amini Tirani for “Cold Sigh” which represented Iran in the main section of the festival, Mehr reported on Monday.

In a statement, the jury explained: “A first work with strong tones that finds its strength in a livid photography that very well underlines the feelings of the protagonist and his conflictual relationship with his father”.

A production of 2023, the 87-minute film is about Baha, a young man from a border town, who learns that his father, Bahram, has been released from prison after 20 years. Bahram killed his wife -- Baha's mother -- having accused her of cheating on him. Baha, who has never coped with this and is still full of anger and resentment decides to go and get his father from prison himself. Bahram and Baha begin their journey while neither can find the words.

Iman Sedigh, Ali Bagheri, Ahoora Bahrami, Amir Aram, Mohammad Ashkanfar, and Salar Daryamaj are in the cast.

Azizi Sedigh’s first feature film, “Cold Sigh” has won several national and international awards so far. Recently, it received the Grand Prix of the 17th Cheboksary International Film Festival in Cheboksary, Russia, in May.

Earlier in April, it won three prizes at the 46th Moscow International Film Festival (MIFF) in Russia. The movie won the Best Director Award, the Audience Choice Award for the Best Film and the NETPAC (Network for the Promotion of Asia Pacific Cinema) Special Mention.

Last year, the film won the Special Jury Award for Best Film in the International Competition of the Fajr Film Festival.

The Ischia Film Festival is an international film festival dedicated to film works and features, regardless of the language: fiction, documentary, and animation. It aims at protecting the heritage and unique characteristics of the locations represented on screen, thus the competition is especially addressed to those works that highlight, through the cinematic narration, the landscape and cultural identity of the territories in which the films are shot.

SS/SAB