‘Parting’, a joint production of Iran and Afghanistan by Navid Mahmudi, an Afghan living in Iran, was picked as the best film, while ‘Overruled’ by Farnaz and Mohammadreza Jurabchian, both from Iran, won the award for best international documentary at the 9th Afghan International film Festival in Stockholm, Sweden.
‘Parting’ tells the story of teenage lovers Nabi and Fereshteh who are separated by her family’s flight from Afghanistan. After years apart, Nabi decides to find Fereshteh and risk the hardships of flight and resettlement in Europe with a hope of a better life.
‘Overruled’ is about the lives of some young Afghan refugees in Iran. They work as ball boys in tennis clubs in Tehran, and learn how to play tennis. But the problem is they are not accepted in this society in any way and will always remain outsiders.
This year 62 films were submitted, in three categories, from six countries.
‘Parting’ was screened at the Busan International Film Festival in South Korea last year and at the 21st edition of the International Film Festival of Kerala in India.
It was introduced as the representative of Afghanistan to the 89th edition of the Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film.
‘Overruled’ has so far taken part at a number of international film festivals, including Low Cost Film Festival in Barcelona, Spain, and White Nights Film Festival in Russia.
