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Iranian wildlife documentary ‘Dog Eater’ wins best short film at Ankara festival
Produced and co-directed by Amiri and Askari, the film was Iran’s sole entry among 691 documentary films from 89 countries competing across short and feature-length categories, IRNA reported.
The festival was held from May 15 to 18.
After the jury’s deliberation, 14 films were selected as winners—seven in shorts and seven in feature-length—from countries including Russia, Spain, Germany, the United States, Nepal, India, Austria, France, Norway, and Iran.
“This was the first year the festival was held,” Amiri said. “The organizers put a strong emphasis on scientific and artistic value, originality of subjects, and storytelling in documentaries.”
He said ‘Dog Eater’ received warm reception from the audience, festival officials, and the international jury.
Set in a village in North Khorasan province, the documentary explores a community’s encounter with a leopard preying on their dogs. Although the leopard was eventually trapped, villagers demanded its release, highlighting local attitudes towards wildlife conservation.
Amiri, a prominent documentarian from Ilam province, has produced several acclaimed films on Iranian wildlife, including ‘In the Realm of the Spider-tailed Viper (2018),’ and ‘In the Whirlpool of Extinction’ on the Asiatic cheetah. His work has earned him numerous domestic and international awards, including a Golden Bear equivalent for his spider-tailed viper documentary.
Alongside screenings, the Ankara festival hosted a panel on wildlife filmmaking, technology, narrative, and creativity, drawing filmmakers and nature enthusiasts. Amiri noted that wildlife documentaries open a window to new worlds and play a vital role in raising public awareness about environmental protection.
‘Dog Eater’ also featured last year at Iran’s Cinema Verite, further cementing its place in the growing field of environmental storytelling.