TEHRAN -- Iranian cinema secured three awards at the 2026 BRICS+ International Film Festival in Russia, with Mahmoud Karimi’s People’s Child receiving the Best Feature Film award, while Calm Man and Khodaye Jang (God of War) earned special prizes.
Victoria Lukina, executive producer of the festival, announced the winners during a press conference at Russia’s TASS news agency.
People’s Child, directed by Mahmoud Karimi, tells the story of an orphaned teenager who embarks on a journey to find his family. The film explores themes of growing up, hope and the universal desire to find a place to call home.
Meanwhile, Calm Man, directed by Behnoush Sadeghi, received the Special Award for Best Social Drama. Written by Mahnoosh Sadeghi and produced by Mehdi Hashemi, the 2025 production explores the lives and challenges of Afghan migrants in Iranian society.
The story follows Nobahar, a young Afghan woman who is forced to marry an elderly man named Zaman. Unexpected developments in their married life gradually transform her feelings towards him. The cast includes Mehdi Hashemi, Shamila Shirzad, Pouya Norouzi, Bita Aziz, Vahid Montazeri, Mahnoosh Sadeghi and Seyed Ali Mirfatah.
Another Iranian film, Khodaye Jang, directed by Hussein Darabi, also received a special award.
The 2026 BRICS+ International Film Festival took place from October 29 to November 3 in Saint Petersburg and Moscow. According to the festival’s official website, 327 films from 22 countries were submitted for consideration.
In another development, Iranian filmmaker Dariush Farhang has collaborated with Nima Mahdian on the feature-length documentary Sabt ba Sanad Barabar Ast (The Record Is Equal to the Document). Filmed over 47 days during the 40-day Ramadan War, the documentary offers a different perspective on the events of that period and features Farhang’s voice in several sequences. The film has applied to participate in the 20th Cinema Verite International Documentary Film Festival in Iran.
Separately, the satirical television series HTV, produced by Omid Media Center, is preparing for broadcast. Directed by Esmail Azimi and produced by Ali-Asghar Soltaninejad, the series follows an American newsroom during the first ten days of the war against Iran. Through situational comedy, it examines news manipulation, media influence and the importance of media literacy.