TEHRAN- Iranian short animation “In the Shadow of the Cypress”, co-directed by Hossein Molayemi and Shirin Sohani, is on screen at the 72nd edition of Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF), which is currently underway at the Australian city.

Produced by the Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults (IIDCYA)-Kanoon, the 20-minute animation portrays an aging sailor grappling with post- traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Living with his daughter in a modest seaside home, their relationship has grown distant. Despite the old captain's desire to reconnect with his daughter, their lives take an unexpected turn one morning.

The festival has dedicated a section to old Iranian animated movies titled “Golden Age of Iranian Animation, 1965-77,” featuring screenings of seven animations produced by Kanoon. 

This section showcases Iranian animation in a variety of styles and themes, highlighting the early efforts of Western-educated filmmakers such as Nosrat Karimi alongside award-winning shorts produced by Kanoon and the Ministry of Culture and Arts.

Included in this package are films like “Malek Jamshid” (1965) directed by Nosrat Karimi; “Grey City” (1972) and “Better, Comfier” (1977), both created by Farshid Mesqali; “Malek Black Bird” (1973) by Morteza Momayyez; and “Atal Matal” (1974) and “The Mad, Mad, Mad World” (1975), both directed by Norroddin Zarrinkelk. Additionally, there are “Rook” (1974), “I Am the One Who” (1974), and “Malak Khorshid” (1975), all by Ali Akbar Sadeghi.

Furthermore, the event has a segment dedicated to Iranian classic films, titled “Iranian New Wave: 1962–79,” which features short and feature films made by renowned Iranian directors who have significantly influenced the country's film industry.

The festival will conclude on Saturday.

Established in 1952, the Melbourne International Film Festival is one of the oldest film festivals in the world. The festival offers several sections dedicated to international films.

Photo: A scene from Iranian short animation “In the Shadow of the Cypress”, co-directed by Hossein Molayemi and Shirin Sohani

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