Iranian short “Retouch” by Kaveh Mazaheri won the Best Live Action Short over 15 Minutes award at the 23rd Palm Springs International ShortFest, which was held in the U.S. city from June 20 to 26.
“Retouch” was competing in the non-student category and all the first place winners in the non-student categories may be eligible to submit their films to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for an Oscar.
“Retouch” is about a young woman whose husband is trapped under a barbell during a workout, but she declines to save him and, consequently, he dies.
The film won the Silver Dragon for best short at the 57th Krakow Film Festival early June. It also won the Best Narrative Short at the 16th Tribeca Film Festival in New York City in April.
The Grand Jury Award went to “The Head Vanishes” (France/Canada) by Franck Dion, the organizers have announced on the website.
The 2017 Palm Springs International ShortFest, the largest short film festival and only short film market in North America. 338 short films screened throughout the Festival along with more than 4,200 filmmaker submissions available in the film market. More than $115,000 in prizes, including $20,000 in cash awards were awarded in 21 categories.
Source: Tehran Times