‘Under the Oak Tree’ gains international momentum
The Iranian short film Under the Oak Tree, written and directed by Hossein Elahyari, has been selected for the Short of the Year competition organized by the Short Film Conference (SFC) and will also be screened at the Iranian Short Film Night program during New Zealand's Show Me Shorts festival.
The Short Film Conference (SFC), founded in 1970, is the world's oldest and one of the most influential international professional networks dedicated to short cinema. Its annual Short of the Year competition is among the organization's flagship programs, bringing together films nominated by qualifying festivals. The entries are evaluated through a vote by SFC members, with the winner announced during the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival and Market in France.
Selection for the competition offers filmmakers significant international exposure among festival directors, programmers and short film distributors. Under the Oak Tree was nominated by the Oscar-qualifying In the Palace International Short Film Festival, a recognition that reflects confidence in the film's quality and strengthens its prospects for further international screenings and distribution.
The film has also been selected for Iranian Short Film Night at New Zealand's Show Me Shorts festival, one of Oceania's leading short film events since its launch in 2006. Under the Oak Tree will be screened on July 21 and 22 as part of the festival's special program highlighting Iranian cinema, with screenings taking place in several cities across New Zealand.
The film recently won the Best Iranian Film award at the third Seven Skies International Film Festival, where the prize was presented by festival director Shahab Hosseini. Its growing list of international accolades also includes an honorary diploma at the 31st Listapad International Film Festival, the Special Jury Prize at the 22nd In the Palace International Short Film Festival in Bulgaria, Best Film, Best Screenplay and Best Sound Design in the national competition of the 41st Tehran International Short Film Festival, as well as the National Will Manifestation Award at the 43rd Fajr International Film Festival.