Pegah Ahangarani Receives Special Jury Award at IDFA for Film 'My Father'

The 36th International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) concluded on Thursday, November 16, with the jury awarding prizes in various categories to the top works of this edition. Pegah Ahangarani, an Iranian filmmaker, received a special jury award for her short documentary film 'My Father.' This work, directed by Pegah Ahangarani, produced by Kaveh Farnam, and edited by Arash Ashtiani, was recognized by the jury as an 'impactful' film. Pegah Ahangarani is among the critical filmmakers who have supported women, youth, and the Iranian freedom movement without compulsory hijab. The IDFA website describes the documentary 'My Father' as a personal narrative where Pegah Ahangarani, born in 1984, reflects on her childhood when every soldier she saw on television made her think it might be her father. During her early years, her father fought at the front, and a picture of Khomeini hung prominently in their home. However, one day, the image of the Ayatollah disappeared without explanation and was replaced by another photo. In this personal work, Pegah discusses how the Iranian revolution and its tumultuous period affected her and her family. She narrates her personal story using archival footage, news clips, and family photographs, initially from the perspective of a girl living in a world of legendary heroes, gradually shifting to the viewpoint of an adult capable of interpreting these complex events. Pegah explains how the lives of generations of her family and friends have been influenced by the past 50 years of Iranian history. Her previous film, 'I Try Not to Forget,' participated in over 40 prestigious international festivals and won numerous awards. Kaveh Farnam, the producer of 'My Father,' previously told Voice of America: 'This documentary is very similar in form and presentation to Pegah's previous film. We will become more familiar with the character Shaghlam from another perspective and get closer to the narrator's family (Pegah).' He adds about his collaboration with Pegah: 'This is not our first work together. My greatest motivation to be alongside Pegah is the deep empathy I have for the characters she chooses. More than empathy, Shaghlam was and still is my best friend throughout my adolescence and youth.' The IDFA is considered one of the most important annual events in the world of documentary cinema and holds special value and credibility in this cinematic genre. This year, the jury awarded the best international documentary film prize to '1489' by Shoghakat Vardanyan from Armenia. The best directing award in this section went to Mohammad Jebali for directing 'Life is Beautiful,' a co-production between Norway and the Palestinian territories. The best film award in the 'Envision' section was given to Ariel Coari Ortega and Ernesto de Carvalho for 'The Transformation of Canuto' from Brazil. The best directing award in this section went to 'The Silence of Reason' by Komiyana Novakova from Bosnia and Herzegovina-North Macedonia.