Iranian Animated Short Wins Academy Award

Iranwire – Iranian directors Hossein Molayemi and Shirin Sohani won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film for “In the Shadow of the Cypress.”

They arrived in Los Angeles just three hours before the ceremony due to visa complications.

The 20-minute animated film follows a retired sea captain struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder while caring for his daughter.

“Believe it or not, three hours ago, our plane landed in LA,” Molayemi told the audience during their acceptance speech.

Both filmmakers apologized for their “bad English” before dedicating their award “to all those who are still fighting their inner and outer battles heroically, and nobody knows about them. Especially to our fellow Iranians, who are still suffering.”

Sohani revealed that they were uncertain about their attendance until they received last-minute visa approval the day before the ceremony.

Their participation in other awards campaigns was hindered by visa difficulties and the withdrawal of financial support from the Iranian government, which limited their international travel.

“It’s a miracle, and speaking in front of this expectant audience is very hard for us. Yes, if we persevere and remain faithful, miracles will happen,” Molayemi said.

In a previous interview with Variety magazine, the directors shared that the film took six years to complete, as it was entirely self-funded.

They said that while they had faced sanctions for years, conditions had become “more complicated since President Trump’s time in office.”