‘Taji’ wins top prize at Ireland’s Foyle Film Festival
Iranian filmmaker Mahdi Borjian picked up the international prize at the 38th Foyle Film Festival in Northern Ireland after his short film ‘Taji’ was named best international title at the Oscar-qualifying event.
The festival jury praised the production as “engaging” with flashes of “humor”, noting its steady build-up of tension and what it called a “rich and satisfying” close. The win sends ‘Taji’ forward as Iran’s submission to the 99th Academy Awards in 2027, ILNA reported.
This year’s Foyle festival ran from November 19 to 30 in Derry. The Irish event is one of the long-standing European platforms for short films seeking entry to the Oscars’ international categories.
Borjian wrote and directed ‘Taji,’ which follows a factory shift supervisor wrestling with a pivotal choice as her personal troubles pile up. The drama centers on a woman portrayed as tough, unyielding and forced to “take a stand” over the future of her life.
The cast includes Fatemeh Neyshabouri, Morteza Khanjani, Shamila Tabesh, Fatemeh Hassani, Rohiyeh Mahmoudi, Faezeh Vafaei, Elaheh Mouchani and Ali Bagheri. Ahad Shamloo also appears, with a special appearance by veteran filmmaker Gholamreza Ramezani. Child actor Janiar Eskandarian features in a key role.