Iran Animation Wins in Cannes

The Iranian feature-length animation ‘Release from Heaven’ has won the ‘Animation That Matters Award’ at Cannes Film Festival, France.

Screened on Animation Day, May 23, the Iran production received the award along with ‘Junod’ by Shinichiro Kimura (from Japan) and ‘Iqbal’ by Michel Fuzellier and Babak Payami (from Italy and France), Mehr News Agency reported.

The prizes recognize the positive values and messages in movies that matter and make people grow as human beings.

The 76-minute animation, is written by scriptwriter and film director Majid Asoodegan, directed by animator and director Ali Noori Oskouei and co-produced by Oskouei and media producer Seyed Vahid Olyaee.

The story of the film takes place in a war-ravaged land where a teacher named Sareh has to accompany two of her students on journey which is life-changing. It is an enchanting mixed-technique animation which blurs the lines between imagination, storytelling and reality.