Filmmaker Salehi Nezhad joins jury of US festival
Iranian documentary filmmaker and producer Mostafa Salehi Nezhad was selected as a jury member for the Sebastopol Documentary Film Festival, a prominent Oscar-qualifying event in California, US.
The festival, known for its focus on socially and culturally significant documentaries, provides a crucial platform for films vying for Academy Award recognition. Winners of the festival become eligible for Oscar consideration, IRNA reported.
Salehi Nezhad, whose works have been showcased at Oscar-accredited festivals and recognized by Canadian film institutions, will judge entries alongside two acclaimed jury members from the US and Spain, both of whom have received awards such as the Emmy and the Oscar.
His documentary ‘Meeting with the Undertaker’ was recently honored at India’s IFFC cultural and tourism short film festival, while his English-language documentary ‘Cold Wind Blows’ was selected for the Pune International Short Film Festival in India. Also, one of his films was featured at Canada’s 29th Rendezvous with Madness festival.
Sebastopol Documentary Film Festival draws international submissions from countries including the US, Japan, Russia, Finland, Canada, Iran, and Scotland, with many competing for a path to the Academy Awards.