San Diego Kids award Iran’s animation ‘The Last Fiction’

Iran animation ‘The Last Fiction’ has won an award at the 2019 San Diego International Kids' Film Festival (SDIKFF) in the US.

Directed by Ashkan Rahgozar, ‘The Last Fiction’ won Best Animated Feature Film award at the US event.

The animated film tells the story of an evil figure in Iranian mythology, Zahhak. It is a free adaptation of a story from Iran’s classic literature.

Based on classic Persian literature — “The Shahnameh,” or “The Book of Kings,” by the poet Ferdowsi — the 100-minute animated ‘The Last Fiction’ follows the twin stories of upstart ruler Zahak, who makes a treacherous rise to the throne in Jamkard (ancient Persia), and of young hero Afaridoun, who is fated to save the kingdom’s people from the darkness.

Zahak, who made a Faustian pact to seize the throne, is now haunted by his evil deeds, and his recent nightmares prophesy that a young man he wronged in the past will rise up against him.

However, Afaridoun must first conquer his own inner demons before he can battle Zahak’s dark forces and restore peace to the kingdom.

Popular Iranian actors Akbar Zanjanpour, Hamed Behdad, Parviz Parastouee, Majid Mozaffari, and Ashkan Khatibi are among the animation voice actors.

The list goes on with Zoheir Yari, Baran Kosari, Hassan Pourshirazi, Shaqayeq Farahani, Melika Sharifinia, Farrokh Nemati, and Bita Farrahi.

The film won recognition and was presented as one of the best ongoing projects at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in France.

It was also invited to the Marché du Film (lit. Film Market), which is the business counterpart of the Cannes Film Festival and one of the largest film markets in the world.

Slated for screening in 32 countries, ‘The Last Fiction’ has gone on screen at several global film events, including the 12th Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA) in Australia, the 37th Fajr Film Festival in Iran, The VOID International Animation Film Festival in Denmark, and the 11th Tehran International Animation Festival in Iran.

The animation has so far won awards such as Best Animated Feature Film award at the 3rd AJAYU International Animation Festival held in Peru, best music award at the 2018 Bucheon International Animation Festival in South Korea, and best animation award at the 3rd Southern Cone International Film Festival in Chile.

The SDIKFF promotes the idea of entertainment with education. The festival supports the entertainment and education industries by showcasing international films, and gives young, aspiring filmmakers a channel to communicate to an international community. The resulting collaboration produces a unique multicultural experience, engaging young viewers with positive media, as a diverse education.

The 2019 edition of the SDIKFF was held on August 23-25.

MG/AG