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Shapouri wins best director at Milan Gold Awards
The film is a dark romantic drama that follows Mahour, a theater makeup artist caring for her father who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease.
The film holds the record at the Los Angeles Hollywood Festival with nominations in 11 artistic categories. Shapouri’s work has also won the Best Screenplay award at the Athens Film Festival earlier this year and earned accolades at other international festivals, including Route 66 (USA), Athens (Greece), and Love Film Festival (USA). The film’s power lies in its simple yet striking portrayal of Alzheimer’s, a subject close to Shapouri’s heart. “Ten years ago, I was making a film in a nursing home, where some patients had Alzheimer’s. I wanted to tell a story about an Alzheimer’s patient,” he said. Shapouri explained that his own grandmother struggled with the disease for years, which motivated him to bring this story to the screen. A Belgian doctor who watched the film recommended it to medical colleagues and families of Alzheimer’s patients for its sensitive depiction. Shapouri reflected on why the film resonated with audiences and judges alike, “The bridge it builds with viewers through straightforward storytelling and its subtle romance moved the jury deeply.” Regarding his decision to dedicate the award to Gaza’s children, Shapouri said, “What Israel is doing is sheer destruction. The injustice against the children and people of Gaza is a humanitarian disaster. We cannot stay silent.” He called on filmmakers with a global voice to speak out against such tragedies.