Breaking Down Barriers awards Iranian ‘Coexist’

The 10th International Disability Film Festival Breaking Down Barriers in Russia has awarded Iranian documentary ‘Coexist’.

Directed by Komeil Soheili, the 12-minute doc about a blind captain living on Hormuz Island in Southern Iran, won the award for best short documentary at the Russian event.

As the tensions increase, he starts making some traditional bread using three unexpected elements from the island.

Since he is unsighted, he catches fish by his one-of-a-kind ability to hear the sound of fish in the ocean.

Respecting the ancient local culture of the island, he collects the island’s natural salt and its edible red soil to make the bread.

‘Coexist’ has gone on screen at a number of global events, including the Terres Travel Festival-Films and Creativity in Spain and the Seize the Film fest in Serbia, where it grabbed the best short film award.

Soheili is a young prolific Iranian filmmaker and documentarian who has so far gained a great deal of international recognition for his works such as ‘Baraka, the Cow’, ‘The Little Plant’, ‘So Far, So Close’ and ‘Branches and Brushes’.

The Breaking Down Barriers is a unique festival that focuses on the life of people with disabilities, their victories and defeats aw well as their daily concerns and incredible stories. This festival features people who have an amazing life.

This year, due to the difficult epidemiological situation, the festival was held in a mixed format: online and offline.

This 2020 edition of the fest was held on November 26-30.

Read more:

‘Coexist’ grabs award at Seize the Film festival

Mente Locale filmfest to screen Iranian ‘Coexist’

‘Coexist’ on screening at Int’l Disability Film Festival

MG/AG