Jacksonville filmfest to screen ‘Echo’

Acclaimed Iranian short animation ‘Echo’ has been selected to compete at the 2021 edition of the Jacksonville Film Festival (JFF) in the US.

Directed by Barzan Rostami, the 7-minute film will be screened in the animation program of the US event.

The animation is about understanding and perception of wildlife and environmental abuse, as well as their consequences on human beings.

“A shy, but curious faun ventures into the forest to a hail of gunfire and barely escapes with its life. In a hunter’s cabin, a little boy, hungry for his father’s attention, sneaks into the forest. Soon the hunter becomes the hunted in a story that blends realism with fantastical elements to explore themes of environmental abuse and its consequences for humanity,” an international fest wrote of ‘Echo’.

The short animation has been presented at a number of global events, including the R.E.D International Film Festival in Norway, the Ojai Film Festival in the US, and the International Tour Film Festival in Italy.

‘Echo’ won an award for Best Short Film at the Southern Cone International Film Festival in Mexico. The 13th Smaragdni eco film festival in Croatia also honored the flick with its best animation award.

Most recently, the Iranian title won the Best Sound Designing award at the 7th Pink City International Short Film Festival in India and the Special Jury Prize at the 18th biannual Włodzimierz Puchalski International Nature Film Festival in Poland.

Founded in 2002, the mission of the JFF is to celebrate motion pictures by discovering and showcasing new talents to rejuvenate the film industry by creating an atmosphere that immerses the filmmakers with their audience and community.

The festival is an opportunity for filmmakers to be recognized for their cinematic achievements while creating an event to reward the best works submitted to the festival.

The 15th edition of the event is slated for February 5-10, 2021.

MG/AG