Iran’s ‘In the Shadow of Cypress’ wins 2025 Oscar for Best Animated Short Film
Iranian short animated film ‘In the Shadow of Cypress,’ co-directed by Hossein Molayemi and Shirin Sohani, won the 2025 Oscar for Best Animated Short Film at the 97th Academy Awards, held on March 2 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. The 20-minute animation secured the prestigious award against four other contenders, including the Belgian-French-Dutch short ‘Beautiful Men,’ Japan’s ‘Magic Candies,’ the Dutch animation ‘Wander to Wonder,’ and France’s ‘Yuck!’, IRNA reported. Produced by the Iranian Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults, ‘In the Shadow of Cypress’ became the first Iranian animated or live-action short film to win an Oscar. It was only the second Iranian short film ever nominated, following ‘Our Uniform’ by Yeganeh Moghaddam, which vied for the same award at the 96th Academy Awards but did not win. Overall, this marks Iran’s third Oscar victory, following Asghar Farhadi’s Best Foreign Language Film wins for ‘A Separation’ in 2011 and ‘The Salesman’ in 2016. During their acceptance speech, Molayemi and Sohani expressed deep gratitude, stating, “We dedicate our film and this special award to all those who continue to fight their inner and outer battles heroically, and nobody knows about that.” Molayemi added, “This is a miracle, and speaking before this expectant audience is overwhelming. But if we persevere and remain faithful, miracles do happen.” ‘In the Shadow of Cypress’ employs geometric 2D animation to portray the relationship between a father and daughter as the father battles PTSD. According to the directors, the film serves as a tribute to veterans of the IranIraq war, particularly those still grappling with PTSD. It explores the psychological and physical struggles of a sea captain and his daughter as they live in isolation at sea. This historic Oscar win marks the first time Iranian filmmakers have claimed an Academy Award in this category. Initially, the directors were not expected to attend the ceremony, but they obtained a last-minute visa and arrived in Los Angeles just three hours before the event. In a previous interview with Variety, Molayemi and Sohani revealed that the film took six years to complete due to self-funding throughout development and production. They also cited longstanding sanctions as a significant challenge, stating that restrictions had intensified since President Donald Trump’s tenure. Prior to its Oscar victory, ‘In the Shadow of Cypress’ garnered major accolades at the LA Shorts International Film Festival, Lebu International Film Festival, and Tribeca Film Festival. It also earned multiple nominations at the Venice International Film Festival, Annie Awards, Annecy International Animation Film Festival, Melbourne International Film Festival, and Clermont-Ferrand International Film Festival. Following the Oscar win, Iran’s House of Cinema congratulated the filmmakers, stating, “It is a great joy and source of pride to see representatives of Iranian culture and art shine on the world stage and carry the Iranian flag at the 97th Academy Awards. With honor, we extend our congratulations to Hossein Molayemi, Shirin Sohani, and the entire production team of ‘In the Shadow of Cypress,’ wishing further success for Iranian cinema.” The Iranian Documentary Filmmakers Association also praised the achievement, calling it “a great honor for Iranian cinema and a brilliant step toward global recognition of Iranian animation.” The association extended its congratulations to the film’s creators and the animation community, hoping this success would inspire new, innovative works. The Iranian Film Directors Guild echoed the sentiment, noting, “The illustrious history of Iranian animation, which has quietly advanced since before the revolution, was missing an Oscar—until now. Thanks to the creativity and artistic vision of Shirin Sohani and Hossein Molayemi, ‘In the Shadow of Cypress’ has filled that gap. The Iranian Film Directors Guild proudly celebrates this monumental achievement.”
