Uruguay Divercine filmfest awards Iranian ‘Raya’

The Divercine International Film Festival for Children and Young People in Uruguay has awarded Iranian short flick ‘Raya’.

Directed by Sepideh Berenji, the 13-minute Iranian flick won the award for best fiction movie at the 30th edition of the Uruguayan event.

It tells the story of Raya and her friends. They cause problems at school. At the same time Raya wonders about morals and compares herself to her parents. She dreams of a better world, through magic or confrontation.

Also written and produced by Berenji, the cast list of the short film includes Raya Qasemzadeh, Peyman Naeemi and Delaram Fathi.

‘Raya’ has previously taken part in a number of film events, including the Nahal International Student Short Film Festival in Iran, the Zlin Film Festival in the Czech Republic, the International Usak Short Film Festival in Turkey, and the Under the Moon International Film Festival (Islantilla Cinefórum) in Spain.

The Uruguayan festival took place in Montevideo on August 17-27.

The Grand Prize of the festival went to animated short ‘Black & White’ co-produced by Jesús Pérez and Gerd Gockell from Bolivia and Switzerland.

‘Frederick’ by Marcela Ruidiaz and Esteban Gaggino from Argentina received the award for best documentary.

Irene Blei from Argentina won the UNICEF Award, which is given to the best film or video of the festival that promotes the rights of the child, for ‘The Tree Has Already Been Planted’.

‘The Ducks’ by Ángela Arregui from Spain won the award for best feature film and the Signis Award went to Spanish director Ruben Hengesbach’s movie ‘The Puppeteer’.

The award for best film by the Jury of the DENI Plan (Children’s and Youth Jury) was presented to ‘My New Turban’ by Marcela Rincon from Colombia.

MG/MG