TEHRAN -- “Wild Life in Palagus” by producer Mohammad Abolhassani picked the best animation and best screenplay awards at the Iranian Cinema Celebration held here on Tuesday evening at Tehran’s Eyvan-e Shams Theater.

The award ceremony was part of the 12th edition of the Iranian Cinema Celebration which is to be held on September 12, the Persian service of MNA reported on Wednesday.

Directed by Ali Derakhshi, the animation studies the life of animals living on an imaginary island named “Paragus”.

The best director award was handed to veteran animator Nureddin Zarrinkelk for “Son of Adam”.

Paying tribute to three veteran animators was also part of the ceremony in which veterans Vajihollah Fard-Moqaddam, Abdollah Alimorad, and Abolfazl Razani received lifetime achievement awards.

Fard-Moqaddam expressed his thanks to his mentors in receiving his award.

Razani said, “I love animation since all the elements in producing an animation are in hands of the producer, so we can create the characters any way we like.”

“Children are lovely and I believe working with children is lot of fun,” Alimorad said while receiving his award.

The Iran Cinema Celebration, which is held annually by the Iranian House of Cinema, celebrates Iran’s National Cinema Day.