TEHRAN -- Iranian cameraman Mahmud Kalari has won a Silver Frog from the Plus Camerimage, a Polish international festival of cinematography art.

He received the award for the acclaimed Iranian film “Nader and Simin, a Separation” during the closing ceremony of the festival in Bydgoszcz on Saturday, the organizers announced on the website of the festival.

“This is the nicest frog I have ever seen in my life,” Kalari said during the ceremony.

“It is an honor to receive this amazing prize for the wonderful film ‘Nader and Simin, a Separation’,” he added.    

A portrayal of the break-up of a marriage, “Nader and Simin, a Separation” is Iran’s submission to the 84th Annual Academy Awards in the Best Foreign Language Films category in 2012.

Plus Camerimage is the greatest and most recognized festival dedicated to the art of cinematography. 

Kalari had participated in the festival in 1999 with “The Wind Will Carry Us”, a film by world-renowned Iranian filmmaker Abbas Kiarostani.

He was also a member of the jury in 2000.

This year’s Golden Frog went to Jolanta Dylewska for Agnieszka Holland’s “In Darkness”, a Holocaust drama that will represent Poland in next year’s foreign language Oscars.

In addition, Robbie Ryan was awarded a Bronze Frog for Andrea Arnold’s “Wuthering Heights”, a British romantic drama film. 

MMS/YAW

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