TEHRAN -- “Siddharth”, an Indian-Canadian drama on poverty in India, has won the Crystal Simorgh for best film at the 33rd International Film Festival.

Canadian-born Indian writer/director Richie Mehta made “Siddharth” based on a real-life story that a man told him on the streets of Delhi in 2010.

The story is about Siddharth, a 12-year-old boy who is sent away for work by his father, Mahendra. The father is relieved – his financial burdens will be alleviated. But when Siddharth fails to return home, Mahendra learns he may have been taken by child-traffickers. With little resources and no connections, he travels across India in pursuit, with the hope that whatever force arbitrarily took his child away will return him unharmed.

The film was produced by Steven N. Bray, David Miller and Mehta.

Winners of the Fajr festival, which was held separately from the national section for the first time this year, were announced during the closing ceremony of the event at Tehran’s Vahdat Hall on Saturday evening.

Iranian director Amir-Hossein Asagri’s debut film “Borderless” received the special jury award and Turkish filmmaker Faruk Hacihafizoglu was presented with the Crystal Simorgh for best director for his acclaimed debut feature “Snow Pirates”.

The Crystal Simorgh for best actor went to Govardhan B.K for his role in “Names Unknown” by Indian director Bijukumar Damodaran.

The organizers also announced the winners in the Asian Film Section during the ceremony.

The Chinese drama “Norjmaa” produced by Batumengke Batumengke won the best film award in this section and Elchin Musaoglu from Azerbaijan received the best director award for his film “Nabat”.

The special jury award went to Malaysian filmmaker Liew Seng Tat for “Men Who Save the World”.

Badema won the best actress award for portrayal of Norjmaa in “Norjmaa” and Marat Oripov was presented with the best actor award for his role in “The Teacher” by Tajik director Nosir Saidov.

The Crystal Simorgh for best screenwriter went to writer/director Safi Yazdanian “What’s the Time in Your World” from Iran.

Photo: Richie Mehta, the writer and director of “Siddharth”, speaks after receiving the Crystal Simorgh for best film during the 33rd International Film Festival at Tehran’s Vahdat Hall on May 2, 2015. (Mehr/Hossein Esmaeili)

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