TEHRAN-The Iranian short film “With Confidentiality” directed by Shervin Vahdat and Payam Azizi received an award from the 70th International Short Film Festival Oberhausen in Germany, which ran from May 1 to 6.

The 2023 flick won the Special Mention of the international jury of the International Competition section of the festival, ISNA reported.

“Ingeniously simple and touching, this film weaves a story of solidarity, ambition, and ambivalence. Risking their lives, the women of an Iranian village turn to the authorities to accuse their husbands. The film is not just about, it is feminist empowerment,” the jury statement read.

The 17-minute flick is a short documentary about a group of women in a village in Iran, who secretly come together despite the danger to their lives to write a complaint letter to the local authorities against their own men. Their clandestine unity and covert movement against widespread addiction among the men lead to a significant police crackdown.

The world's oldest short film competition, the International Short Film Festival Oberhausen is a forum for experiments, unusual content and formats, and the place for cinematic discoveries, regardless of genre and production country. 

Every year, filmmakers from over 40 countries present themselves at the festival. Only international festival premieres are admitted to the competition. A premiere shown in the competition is often a springboard for selection at other festivals - not least for the Oscar.

SS/SAB