TEHRAN (IFILM) -- The 16th edition of the Neum Animated Film Festival (NAFF) in Bosnia and Herzegovina has awarded Iranian animation ‘This Side, Other Side’.
The Iranian title was announced as the best in the category of 2D and 3D animation.
Directed by Lida Fazli, the animation shows some kids from the two sides of a borderline that make friends and play games with one another.
This amity between the kids enrages the adults and triggers them to start a war.
However, the kids continue to play with each other while the adults are fighting.
According to an ifilm exclusive interview with the director, the short film is made to convey the message that no border can limit friendship and love.
Fazli emphasized that love and kinship between kids are so pure and innocent that nothing can destroy them, even the dark shadow of war.
‘This Side, Other Side’ has so far gone on screen at many global events, including the ifva Awards in China, the Cartoon Club Festival in Italy, the International Animation Film Festival - Golden Kuker Sofia in Bulgaria, and the 2019 Smile International Film Festival for Children & Youth in India, where it won the awards for Best Story and Best Short Film.
It has also won UNICEF Award at the Festival Biennial of Animation Bratislava in Slovakia, best animation award at the XXII Scrittura e Immagine Short Festival in Italy, best animation award at the 2020 C (H) ORTA - Short Film Festival of Faial in Portugal, and special award at the International Film Festival of Children and Youth in Serbia.
This year’s NAFF award for the best 2D animation went to the Bosnian author Aleta Rajič for ‘Natural Selection’, while the Grand Prix award was given to ‘Foreign Exchange’ by Corrie Francis Parks from the US.
‘Flower and the Girl’ from the UK won the best clay puppet animation award, while the award for visual art was presented to Roman Burmakov from Russia for his film ‘Krasnoludki’.
The award for the best music was given to ‘The March of the Missing’ by Marcos Almada from Mexico.
‘Croach’ from Argentina was declared the best student film, while the Dušan Vukotić award went to ‘Stuck Together’ by Masha Avramović from Serbia.
The NAFF aims to develop film industry and culture by showcasing international films and holding creative meetings with the help of young talents.
The 16th edition of the NAFF was held on June 29-July 1, 2021. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the festival was held online this year.