Iranian short film wins top prize at Birmingham Kurdish festival
Iranian filmmaker Edris Mahmoudian’s short drama ‘Limo Knew Everything’ won the Best Short Film award at the first Birmingham Kurdish Film Festival (BKFF), which concluded on May 31 in Birmingham, England.
The 21-minute film, written and directed by the Mahabad-born filmmaker, emerged as the top winner at the festival’s closing ceremony, attended by British cultural and artistic figures. Launched on May 28, the Birmingham Kurdish Film Festival was established to showcase Kurdish cinema and provide an international platform for Kurdish filmmakers from across the globe.
Set in a rural household, ‘Limo Knew Everything’ unfolds around a family’s anticipation of the birth of a son after eight daughters. Through a vibrant ensemble of women, restless movement, and an immersive camera, the film draws viewers into the pulse of everyday life, where hope hangs in the air like a whispered promise.
The latest accolade adds to the film’s growing international recognition. Earlier this year, it received a Jury Commendation at the Fifth Kurdish Film Festival of the Netherlands. It had previously earned Special Jury Mentions at the 11th Duhok International Film Festival in Iraq, the 41st Tehran International Short Film Festival, and the 21st Image of the Year Festival, while also collecting awards for Best Director and Best Sound at the Lahijan Open-Air Film Festival.
The cast includes Zhaleh Niloufari, Kamal Nojavan, Helya Alaei, Aram Amini, Mahpareh Amini, Dordaneh Razmara, Nastaran Sohrabi-Nia, Farinaz Naderi, Asal Mohammadi, Gazizeh Ebrahimi, Melina Mahboubi, Baran Mohammadi, and Rozhan Bayazidi.
Mahmoudian, who holds a degree in historic preservation, has been active in cinema since 2009 and previously directed the short films ‘Kite’ and ‘Now a Girl Is My Homeland’.