TEHRAN – The closing ceremony of the 3rd Seven Skies International Short Film Festival took place at the Zima Mall Cineplex, gathering filmmakers, artists, jury members, and cinema professionals to celebrate independent storytelling and announce this edition’s award winners.
Founded in 2022 to champion independent cinema, spotlight emerging talent, foster cross-cultural dialogue, and provide an international platform for bold cinematic voices, the festival showcased a diverse slate of entries from Iran and around the globe in its third installment.
The ceremony commenced with the festival’s official trailer, followed by a retrospective of this year’s program milestones. Acclaimed actor and director Shahab Hosseini, founder and president of the Seven Skies International Short Film Festival, addressed attendees on the festival’s long-term vision, the vital role of independent cinema, and the importance of connecting global storytellers across borders.
Jury members then took the stage to announce the official award recipients.
The 3rd Edition Jury Panel
- Hesam Farahmand – Head of the Jury
- Mahyar Miriadiab – Jury Member
- Atefeh Heidari – Jury Member
- Sanaz Arjmand – Photography Jury
Award Winners
The award for Best International Short Film went to Dysmorphic, directed by American filmmaker Grant Swanson. As the director was unable to attend in person, the trophy was accepted on his behalf by a designated representative.
The award for Best Iranian Short Film was presented to Under the Shady Oak, directed by Hossein Alahyari.
In the craft categories, Sarina Fathi took home the prize for Best Cinematography for her work on Lost.
Alongside the main ceremony, exclusive interviews were conducted with attending directors, cast members, and crew. An in-depth conversation with jury president Hesam Farahmand will be released across the festival’s official media channels in the coming days.
Partners & Acknowledgments
The 3rd Seven Skies International Short Film Festival was hosted by the Zima Mall Cineplex, made possible through key institutional collaboration and private sector cultural sponsorship.
Organizers expressed sincere gratitude to Saman Babaei (General Manager, Zima Mall Cineplex), Maryam Beigi (Gezal Camping), and Parisa Nazari (Delbareh Finger Food) for their dedicated logistical support and community partnership.
In closing, the festival secretariat extended heartfelt appreciation to participating filmmakers, the esteemed jury, honored guests, media partners, and the entire production team, anticipating an even broader international footprint for the upcoming 4th edition.
With an ongoing mission centered on independent short cinema, discovering emerging voices, and bridging international cinematic communities, Seven Skies looks forward to its next chapter.
