Iran’s animation wins at Cleveland festival, eligible for Oscar
Iranian animation ‘Anita, Lost in the News’, directed by Behzad Nalbandi, won the Best Animated Short Jury Award at the 48th Cleveland International Film Festival, an Academy Award-qualifying event, held from April 3 to April 13 in the United States.
The 17-minute film competed in the international documentary section along with ‘Nyanga,’ ‘Medhin Tewolde Serrano’.
The synopsis of the film reads, “A little girl with big dreams, accompanied by her family, are illegal immigrants who have to cross the English Channel on a sail boat in search of better life.”
Nalbandi’s previous film ‘Torn Papers,’ which garnered awards at various international and Iranian film festivals.
‘Anita, Lost in the News’ has previously been screened at several festivals including festivals in Ji.hlava International Documentary Film Festival in Czech and Tokyo Anime Award Festival in Japan.