Winners of 19th Cinema Verite Festival Announced in Tehran

Date: 17 December 2025 - 22:29

News ID: ۱۴۶۹۹۴

TEHRAN -- In a packed ceremony at Tehran’s historic Vahdat Hall, the 19th Cinema Vérité Festival crowned its winners Tuesday night, bringing a diverse array of international documentary films and photographic works into the spotlight.

The event, a cornerstone of non-fiction cinema in West Asia, once again proved a stage where social urgency meets artistic innovation.

Among the standout moments of the evening was the presentation of the Turquoise Statues — the festival’s highest honors — to filmmakers whose works push the boundaries of documentary form and global storytelling.

Spotlight on Iranian and International Voices

Iranian filmmaker Ali Muhammadi Sadeghi’s For Ebrahim, a Man With a Video Camera took home the coveted Documentary Award from the Iranian Documentary Network, offering audiences an intimate look at its subject with technical daring and emotional depth.

Equally notable, Crossroads of Events by Farshad Ektesabi was awarded the Strategic Vice-President’s Prize, highlighting the festival’s engagement with films that merge stylistic rigor and urgent social themes.

In the International Competition, the special jury prize went to Voices From the Abyss, a Mexico-helmed piece by Irving Serrano and Victor Rejon, while Australia’s Refugees by Adam Knott earned a Special Distinction, reflecting global concerns around displacement. The Best International Feature Documentary Award was presented to “Goat 501”, directed by Evrim Cervatoglu.

Gaza Section — Political Urgency Takes Center Stage

For the second consecutive year, Cinema Vérité’s Gaza Competition amplified voices from Palestine and the diaspora. The jury’s special award honored Brazil–Palestine filmmaker Gustavo Castro’s Notes on Exile, and the top film prize was shared between Still Playing by Muhammad Mesbah (France/Palestine) and Gaza: A Stolen Childhood by Moamen Ghonem (Palestine/Qatar). These selections underscore the festival’s commitment to politically urgent storytelling that resonates far beyond Iran’s borders.

Emerging Filmmakers and Short Form Innovation

Student and short documentary sections were richly rewarded, with honorary mentions going to Misophonia by Sogand Rezaei, Maskhcratie by Amir Kamali Alamouti, and standout photography portfolios such as Asghar Besharati’s Hunting the Geometry.

In the category of short and mid-length documentaries, Sepideh Sepahi’s Kourosh secured Best Mid-Length Film, while Belgian filmmaker Caroline Guimbal’s Red Moon Eclipse received a special jury citation for its lyrical visual approach.

Honoring Legacy and National Talent

Cinema Vérité also presented the Martyr Avini Awards, among the festival’s most prestigious honors named after the iconic Iranian documentarian. Morteza Payeshenas’s A Small Canal in the Marsh earned the Golden Avini Statue, while Mustafa Mousavi Tabar and Ali Shahabeddin were awarded Silver and Bronze Avini statues for their respective films Standing by the Thames and the co-directed Depth of Field.

In a highlight for national cinema, For My Daughter emerged as the Best Film of the Festival, produced by Mehdi Avazzadeh, Hashem Masoudi, and Mojtaba Ehsani, and greeted with sustained applause from the evening’s international audience.

Sardar of the Homeland Section Award

The “Soldier of the Homeland” Award, along with the Festival Trophy, an Honorary Diploma, and a scale model of the Jamaran frigate, was presented to Rear Admiral Nasser Sarnevesht, the central figure of the documentary “Depth of Field.”

National Competition — Homegrown Documentaries Recognized

Back on home soil, Iranian films were celebrated across categories: The Whisper of Things by Ali Hamraz and A Branch on the Water, a documentary on the life of martyr Muhammad‑Mehdi Tehranchi directed by Mohsen Eslamizadeh and Muhammad-Mehdi Habibi, received honorary mentions in the special Iran: Ancient Heritage section, while Aras, the Roaring River and Branch on the Water were singled out for jury commendations.

At the national level, filmmakers like Hemen Khaledi (Singing Wings) and Ebrahim Hesari (Grape Season) walked away with top directing honors, while technical awards applauded achievements in sound, editing, and cinematography. Among them, Farshad Afshinpour was recognized for his striking cinematography on Wild Alborz. An Honorary Diploma was awarded to “Rush”, directed by Nima Mahdian.

Fans and the Public Voice

In a nod to audience engagement, the People’s Choice Award went to Kabook, directed by Jafar Sadeghi, produced with backing from the Iranian Documentary Development Center — a rare homegrown project that captured the hearts of the festival’s attendees.