Iranian documentary wins top award at Africa festival
Iranian short documentary ‘Throne of Wood’ has won the award for best short documentary at the 15th Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF), held in Lagos, southwestern Nigeria.
Directed by Sadegh Kazemi, the film is a production of Iran’s Documentary House. It received the award at the festival, which ran from November 1 to 7, 2026, bringing together films from around the world.
Locally named ‘Soghra Rais’ (chief Soghra in Persian), the social documentary tells the story of a woman around 100 years old whose determination to maintain her independence remains central to her life, despite having dozens of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
At the heart of the film is her insistence on continuing her distinctive habit of collecting firewood, a choice that reflects her determination to live on her own terms.
‘Throne of Wood’ previously won the Best Documentary Award at the seventh Kobani International Film Festival, strengthening its profile on the international festival circuit.
The festival was held in Lagos over seven days in early November.