TEHRAN- Iranian short animation “In the Shadow of the Cypress”, co-directed by Hossein Molayemi and Shirin Sohani, won the Best Animation Film Award at the international section of 47th Drama International Short Film Festival (DISFF), which came to an end in the Greek city on Sunday. 

The movie received the award for its groundbreaking narrative, its excellent sound and image, its animation aesthetic, and the delicacy with which it approaches the human psyche, the jury said in a statement. 

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.

"In the Shadow of the Cypress” has already won numerous awards from prestigious festivals.

The animation has been recognized for its outstanding storytelling and visuals, taking home top honors at several Academy Award-qualifying festivals. In the U.S., it won the Best Animated Short award at the 23rd Tribeca Film Festival, held in New York. Additionally, it received the Grand Jury Prize at the 19th Animayo Gran Canaria, International Festival of Animation, Visual Effects and Videogames.

The film's impressive run continued at the 28th LA Shorts International Film Festival in Los Angeles, where it won the Best Animation Award. 

The Drama International Short Film Festival is a prestigious A-list festival that qualifies for both the Oscars and the European Film Academy. For 47 years, it has served as a vital global hub for filmmakers and producers specializing in short films, facilitating connections and collaborations that aim to enhance the artistic and production quality of the genre.

As an Oscar-qualifying festival, DISFF offers winners of the Grand Prix in the International Competition and the Best Film Award in the National Competition eligibility for the Best Animated Short Film or Best Live-Action Short Film categories at the Academy Awards, provided they meet the relevant regulations set by the Academy.

SAB/