Iran most honored short film awarded in Mexico

Award-winning director Mohammad Bakhshi’s short film ‘Are You Volleyball?!’ has gained Best Short Film at the 24th International Film Festival for Children in Mexico City, Mexico.

Bakhshi’s film competed with 11 other films representing Argentina, Colombia, Czech Republic, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, Norway, and Puerto Rico.

The 2017 film depicts the story of a group of refugees, leaving their war torn countries, who approach the border of another country, only to be met with hostility from the border guards.

Unable to understand each other, the two sides clash back and forth until a deaf youth becomes an intermediary between the two sides.

The award-winning short has been featured at over 300 film festivals across the world, including in Poland, France, Iraq, Japan, Turkey, China, Spain, Romania, Switzerland, and the US.

One of the most highly-acclaimed short films in Iranian cinema, the 15-minute flick has earned over 100 awards to include Best Film and People’s Choice Award at the Ascona Film Festival in Switzerland, Best Film and Best Screenplay at the Short Film Competition of the US Forum on Law, Culture & Society.

Mohammad Bakhshi’s work now is the most honored short film in the history of Iranian cinema, a report said.

An independent event, the International Film Festival for Children is a cultural gathering that seeks to introduce quality cinema to children from around the world.

The festival is held annually in Mexico City, Mexico.

MB/AG