Iranian short film ‘The Diving’ wins top award at Toronto’s TINFF
Iranian short film ‘The Diving,’ written and directed by Mohammad Tanabandeh and produced by Amir Seydabadi, won the Best Short Film award at the 9th Toronto International Nollywood Film Festival (TINFF), which ran in Toronto.
The festival, often dubbed the “Canadian Oscars” for its high-profile international line-up, recognized ‘The Diving’ as one of the year’s most outstanding short dramas. The jury praised it as “a standout in originality,” honoring Seydabadi during the closing gala for his production work.
‘The Diving’ features a strong Iranian cast, including Hossein Mehri, Atefeh Akbari, Mohammad Sadegh Mirmohammadi, Mahkameh Zarrineh, Ali Asghar Noei, Fariborz Shahkarami, Nasser Jazandari, Arvin Zand and Mahan Derakhshan.
Centered on the character Azar, the film explores the struggles of a woman confronting deep personal dilemmas. Its opening line — “The last thing on my mind is having a child” — sets the tone for a raw and introspective story of choice and identity.
Held annually in Toronto, TINFF is one of Canada’s most prominent independent film festivals, spotlighting global voices across short and feature films. The 2025 edition screened works from over 50 countries, with The Diving standing out among the top international entries.