TEHRAN -- “Buddha Collapsed out of Shame” by Iranian filmmaker Hana Makhmalbaf has won the Paolo Ungari UNICEF Award at the Cinema Rome Film Fest which was held from October 18 until 27.

Hana, daughter of the celebrated filmmaker Mohsen Makhmalbaf, received the award for her humanitarian stance towards the plight of Afghan children.
This joint production of Iran and France is about a 6-year-old Afghan girl named Baktay who lives with her mother amidst the ruins of two giant statues of Buddha that were bombed by the Taliban.
The film depicts the violence in Baktay’s everyday life when even on the way to school she has to confront problems such as boys wanting to stone her, or blow her up, just as the Taliban had blown up the Buddha statues.
“I hope the film will help to improve circumstances for children all over the world, particularly those who are innocent and suffer from the wars initiated by the great powers,” 19-year-old Hana said after receiving the award.
“Buddha” competed together with 13 other films in the festival’s Alice in the City international section which is dedicated to the younger generation.
In September, Hana’s film Buddah won the special jury award at the 55th San Sebastian Film Festival