Greek award goes to Iranian ‘Asho’

The 23rd edition of the Olympia International Film Festival for Children and Young People in Greece has awarded Iranian ‘Asho’.

Made by Jafar Najafi and produced by Maryam Naqibi, the 30-minute documentary received the Best Short & Medium Length Documentary Award at the Greek event.

“This film gave us a great glimpse into the life of a unique young boy and his love of films. It gave a great balance between older traditions and the new world intertwining and the inner conflict it can sometimes create for the young protagonist. The shots were beautifully shot and the audience gets a chance to get to know the unique character Asho,” the festival jury stated on the closing night of the event.

‘Asho’ is about a shepherd boy who is obsessed with Hollywood movies and wants to become an actor.

What could be better than singing your heart out on a hillside? Asho enjoys life in the hills of Iran, where he herds a flock of sheep with his father.

The sheep are all named after famous people: presidents, actors or actresses, depending on their hairstyle.

Asho knows all about the movies – he watches them on his cracked tablet out in the fields.

He also wants to be an actor when he grows up; but does he have the qualities of a real star at home?

His sister says that he can’t even eat politely. And first, he has to get married to his cousin Pari, who also visits him in his dreams.

Asho plays to the camera like a pro, but when Pari is around he gets embarrassed and slaps her teasingly. Will they make up and be friends?

The colorful clothing and sun-drenched countryside make a stunningly romantic backdrop for the ambitions of the cheerful Asho, an irresistible small-time cowboy who has long been the star of his own film.

The doc has so far won many awards, including a special mention at the International Leipzig Festival for Documentary and Animated Film - DOK Leipzig in Germany, Lessina Silver for Best Short Film at the Film Festival Della Lessinia in Italy, International Short Film Jury award at the DOQUMENTA International Documentary Film Festival in Mexico, Best International Short Film Award at the Fribourg International Film Festival in Germany, Best Short Film award at the Sevastopol International Festival of Documentary Films and TV Programs “Won Together” in Russia, and the Grand Prize at the Amiens International Film Festival in France.

The Olympia festival, held in the Greek cities of Pyrgos and Amaliada on November 28-December 5, honored ‘Antigone’ by Sophie Deraspe from Canada with the award for best feature film.

‘Our Time’ by Veronica Spedicati from Italy won the award for best short fiction film and best short animation award went to ‘Cornstalk’ by Anastasiia Zhakulina from Russia.

The best director award was presented to Samuel Kishi Leopo from Mexico for his film ‘Los Lobos’ and Gaspar Scheuer from Argentina won the award for best screenplay for writing ‘Delfin’.

Riva Krymalowski won the best young actress award for her role in Caroline Link’s ‘When Hitler Stole the Pink Rabbit’, a Germany-Switzerland production.

The award for best young actor went to Nikolas Kisker for his role in ‘Daniel ’16’ by Dimitris Koutsiabasakos from Greece.

‘Pearl of the Desert’ by Pushpendra Singh, an India-South Korea production, won the award for best feature documentary.

Read more:

Iranian doc ‘Asho’ garners award at Italian fest

San Francisco Iranian Film Festival screening ‘Asho’

Amiens festival awards Iranian doc ‘Asho’

MG/MG