‘Persian Gulf Photographer’ awarded in Taiwan with eco-focused short
An Iranian filmmaker from Qeshm Island won the Special Jury Award at the 2026 Chiayi International Three-Minute Film Competition in Chiayi, Taiwan, as his environmentally themed short stood out among entries from 33 countries.
Asghar Besharati, widely known as the “Persian Gulf Photographer,” secured the honor with The Way of a Red, a compact, visually driven work that he wrote, directed, shot and produced. The film’s focus on environmental stewardship and the “vital” role of water resonated with an international jury and underscored Iran’s growing cultural footprint at global festivals, IRNA reported.
“The film speaks to a ‘shared’ concern,” one festival juror said in a statement, praising its concise storytelling and visual clarity.
Besharati’s latest accolade builds on an established international track record. He has previously taken top gold medals in Spain, the United Kingdom and Russia, and has increasingly pivoted toward documentary filmmaking that foregrounds the natural heritage of southern Iran.
Cultural officials describe him as a “credible ambassador” of Hormozgan’s landscapes and traditions on the world stage.
‘The Way of a Red’ features Reyhaneh Sadeghi, with sound recorded by Maher Soroudi, sound design by Amin Ardani and editing by Mansour Vahdani. Its international distribution is handled by Exir Tasvir, led by Seyed Hamed Nobari.
The film has already drawn recognition across multiple platforms, including a special award at the Nikon International Film Festival 2025 and honors at the Golden Shot World Festival 2025, alongside national prizes in Iran’s water and environmental cinema circuits.
The Chiayi competition, hosted by the city’s Cultural Affairs Bureau, is a prominent platform for ultra-short filmmaking, drawing a diverse international field and spotlighting concise narratives with global resonance.