TEHRAN – “Under the Smoky Roof”, director Puran Derkhshandeh's drama about emotional unavailability, was crowned best at the 2nd Health Film Festival in Tehran on Sunday.

The film is about Shirin whose relations with her son and husband are gradually ruined. Shirin faces a new challenge when she wants to restore the relationship.

In her acceptance speech, Derkhshandeh expressed her thanks to the organizers and said that their attention to social and family problems encourages her to focus on such issues.  

The Ministry of Health is the main organizer of the festival, which came to end by honoring the winners at Vahdat Hall on Sunday evening.

The award for the second best film went to Tahmineh Milani’s “Untaken Path”.

“I made a film about domestic violence and it is a miracle that I’m being honored for such a film,” said Milani whose films provoke controversy over their feministic themes.  

“Let’s put an end to violence in families and society,” she noted.

Director Mahmud Ghaffari’s “No. 17 Soheila” received the award for the third best film.

The movie is about a woman who tries to get married in her early middle age because she is fearful of the future when she will not be able to become pregnant.

Director Mehdi Karampur and screenwriter Mehdi Sajjadehchi were honored with a special jury award for their collaboration on “Sophie and the Beast”.

A number of documentary films were also awarded.

“Avantage”, director Mohammad Kart’s documentary on homeless people in a Tehran suburb, and “A Home without a Master”, Hadi Masumdoost’s documentary about a family reunion shared the first prize.

In addition, a number of TV films and programs and productions by university students were honored at the six-day festival.

The organizers also presented veteran filmmaker Rakhshan Ban-Etemad with a lifetime achievement award.

Photo: Director Puran Derkhshandeh accepts the award for best film for her drama “Under the Smoky Roof” during the 2nd Health Film Festival in Tehran at Vahdat Hall on August 27, 2017. Jury members are also seen on stage. (IRNA/Ahmad Moeinijam)

MMS/YAW