Iranian filmmakers win Russian award for documentary ‘Stand with the Wolf’
An Iranian filmmaking duo won a top award at a Russian film festival for their documentary ‘Stand with the Wolf’ which took part in the festival with the name ‘Next to the Wolves.’
The film, directed by Saeed Nabi and Maryam Khadivi, took home the Muravyov-Amursky Award, a special prize from the Irkutsk Regional Museum of Local History, at the 23rd Baikal International Film Festival “Man and Nature” in Russia, ISNA wrote.
The award was given to the filmmakers for their work in showcasing the ideals of faith, conscience, and beauty in their documentary, the festival’s jury members announced.
‘Next to the Wolves’ tells the true story of Hadi Jalali, an Iranian environmental activist who was shot by hunters and has over 99 lead bullets still lodged in his body.
The film was one of 24 selected for the final round of competition at the festival, which took place from September 17-27 in Russia. The festival, which focuses on the relationship between humans and the environment, featured films from around the world, including Iran, Germany, Romania, South Korea, and the UK.
The Muravyov-Amursky Award is named after a 19th-century Russian statesman and hero who founded several cities in the country’s Far East. The award is considered one of the top prizes at the festival, which is supported by the Russian Ministry of Culture and the Presidential Foundation for Cultural Initiatives.
“We are honored to receive this award and grateful for the recognition of our work,” said Nabi and Khadivi in a statement. “We hope that our film will continue to inspire people to take action in protecting the environment and preserving the natural world.”