Iran’s ‘Two Sisters’ wins Al Jazeera co-production award at Tokyo Docs 2025
Iranian documentary ‘Two Sisters,’ directed by Farahbakhsh Farhidnia and produced by Yaser Talebi and Setareh Zare, clinched the top co-production award from Al Jazeera Documentary Channel at the 2025 Tokyo Docs international forum, organizers announced.
Chosen from among 20 shortlisted projects worldwide, ‘Two Sisters’ earned what the organizers called the “highest honor” of this year’s edition, held from November 4 to 7 in Tokyo.
The event brought together independent filmmakers and broadcasters from Japan, India, Iran, China, and South Korea to pitch and co-finance new documentary projects. Set in the rugged mountains of northern Iran, Two Sisters follows the quiet resistance of two elderly siblings fighting to save their ancestral home and land from destruction, a story that blends intimate family drama with environmental struggle.
The production team includes Talebi as cinematographer, editor, and producer; Zare as international producer; researchers Ahmad Bavand and Ali Sadeghi; sound engineers Hassan Jafari and Mahmoud Mousavi; production manager Mohsen Pouyanfar; and aerial cameraman Vahid Dorvah.
Currently in post-production, the film is backed by a consortium of broadcasters including Al Jazeera Documentary Channel (Qatar) and NHK Japan, alongside Sweden’s Meritis Film. The international support is expected to accelerate its completion and pave the way for a global release next year.
Farhidnia described the award as “a bridge for stories rooted in local realities to reach the world,” adding that Two Sisters “reflects resilience and belonging in a rapidly changing landscape.”