TEHRAN – The Iranian feature film “Inside Amir” directed by Amir Azizi, which follows a young man in Tehran on the verge of emigrating, has won the Director’s Award, the top prize, at the 2025 edition of Venice Days, or Giornate degli Autori, the independent parallel section of the Venice Film Festival.

The section’s top award comes with a cash prize of €20,000 ($23,000). This is to be split equally between the filmmaker and the film’s international distributor, ISNA reported.

The jury called Inside Amir “a meditation on everyday life,” adding: “It reminds us of how daily routines, movements, and conversations with friends provide both security and freedom. With a framing that little by little reveals a complex life marked by loss and grief against a backdrop of exile and social upheaval, the film asks fundamental questions about what it means to belong and the existential doubts that follow in the wake of such thoughts”.

“It is a film that takes time to listen, and that shows how unexpected, spontaneous encounters build a rich life. The film’s precise dialogue and staging give a strong sense of presence, and as a viewer, you feel a generosity in the way you are invited in among a group of friends and get to take part in both intimate, profound, and trivial conversations. Another thing that gives great pleasure when watching this film is the subtle use of different time periods, often in the same frame, and often during the same bike ride,” the jury concluded.

The Venice Days jury was led by Norwegian writer and director Dag Johan Haugerud and also included Italian Vermiglio producer Francesca Andreoli, French-Palestinian filmmaker Lina Soualem, New York’s MoMA film curator Josh Siegel, and Tunisian cinematographer Sofian El Fani.

“Amid scattered memories, unfinished conversations, and slow-moving days, he faces a decision he hasn’t fully made yet: to leave or to stay,” reads a synopsis for the movie. “The only thing he refuses to part with is his bicycle – a companion through the city’s streets and a symbol of his past.”

According to Azizi, “the film swings between past and present – friendships, late-night anxiety, and a city Amir is still tied to. It is a quiet meditation on the emotional distance between staying and leaving – not about what’s right or wrong, but what remains unresolved”.

“The movie is rooted in personal experience, but it aims to speak in a universal cinematic language. It portrays a young man drifting through a city filled with memories, loneliness, and silent transformations. I’m drawn to the poetry of ordinary life – to the subtle rhythms of streets, bodies in motion, and moments that seem quiet but are emotionally charged,” the director said.

“Rather than focusing on plot or dialogue, this film explores presence, space, and human vulnerability. I wanted to observe reality without any judgments or spectacle – just a patient gaze that trusts the audience’s sensitivity. My approach avoids slogans or dramatic noises, seeking instead a deeper emotional clarity,” he added.

“Inside Amir” is not a statement about migration, identity, or politics – it is a human story about someone trying to stay afloat. “I believe that if a film is honest, even in stillness, it can deeply connect with audiences,” Azizi noted.

Amir Azizi, 41, began his career in film in 2003. He worked as a director’s assistant with renowned Iranian filmmakers, including Kianoush Ayari and Rakhshan Banietemad. He directed several short films, such as “The Idiot” (2007), “Two Cold Meals for One Person” (2009), and “Family Portrait” (2009), which all screened at national and international festivals.

His documentaries “Wolf” (2012), “Nature and Cities of Iran” (2013), and “Home” (2022) focus on local and environmental themes and received critical acclaim. His first feature, “Temporary” (2014), was screened at the Beijing International Film Festival and Med Film Festival in Rome, winning a Special Jury Prize. His second feature, “Two Dogs” (2020), competed at Warsaw and won awards at Bangalore and other festivals.

SS/SAB