Iran’s ‘Dandelions Girl’ wins Audience Award at Tokyo festival
Iranian short film ‘Dandelions Girl’ won the Audience Award in the Asian competition at the 27th Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia 2025, the festival’s organizers confirmed on Sunday.
Directed by Azadeh Masihzadeh and produced by Razieh Gholami, ‘Dandelions Girl’ beat dozens of contenders to emerge as the crowd favorite in screenings across Tokyo cinemas and the festival's online platform. The annual Oscar-qualifying festival is one of Asia’s short film events, celebrating both established and emerging voices in filmmaking.
The 15-minute film follows a young girl breaking into the world of soccer despite social constraints. With a symbolic take on “truth versus lies,” the story paints a picture of honesty and defiance among youth. “She disturbs the balance,” said Masihzadeh, describing the character’s impact on the field.
Actors Tara Soroush, Binyam Afrangeh, and Abdollah Bahadori lead the cast. International distribution is managed by AtoZinema, headed by Masihzadeh. The Audience Award is based on public votes across the “International,” “Asia,” and “Japan” sections.
‘Dandelions Girl’ topped the Asian category with the highest viewer votes, reflecting its emotional resonance and timely themes.