‘People’s Child’ grabs top prize at Russian festival
Iranian feature film ‘People’s Child’, directed by Mahmoud Karimi, has won the Best Fiction Feature award at the inaugural BRICS+ International Film Festival in Russia.
The film follows an orphaned teenager forced to leave his care home. After discovering in his personal file that his family had lost him, he sets out to find his relatives, hoping for a reunion.
The journey ultimately becomes a path to growing up and discovering himself.
The first BRICS+ International Film Festival was held from October 29 to November 3, 2026, in Moscow and St. Petersburg, however the winners were announced at a press conference in Moscow on November 6.
The film also received recognition at Iran’s 43rd Fajr Film Festival in 2025, where it earned 14 Crystal Simorgh nominations, three awards and an honorary diploma.
It received 327 submissions from 22 countries, with its international jury selecting winners across 12 award categories.
The event brought together feature films, short films and documentaries from BRICS+ countries and partner states, aiming to promote cultural exchange and cooperation through cinema.
‘People’s Child’ was named best fiction feature, while Iranian films also received special recognition in other categories.