Tehran – Eight Iranian films will take part in the 24th Docfest, International Documentary and Short Film Festival, held in Kosovo from August 1st to 9th.
Iranian participants include short films, feature films and animated films, some of which are collaborative works with other countries, Honaronlein reports.
Written and directed by Ali Masoumi, “Cutting through the Rock” by Mohammadreza Eini and Sarah Khaki, “Donkey Bat” by Mostafa Golvanpur, “Fear” by Sohaila Madadi, “One of Their”, “One of Their” by Majrafa Vajiri, “Punishment” Hojat Jolodar is an Iranian film taking part in the upcoming edition of the festival.
The 2024 production “Bugs” is a short animation and runs for six minutes. Produced by the Documentary and Experimental Film Centre (DEFC), “Bugs” examine the lasting effects of parental behavior and responses on child development and track the long-term effects of these interactions from childhood to adulthood.
Animation, a 2024 production, depicts a family of three who have recently moved, and the little girl inspects a new home with curiosity when a little cricket finds a way to enter their home as a surprise visitor. However, the father’s unexpected response begins to change the child’s perspective, making easy encounters much more unsettling.
The documentary “Coting Strocks” tells the story of Sara Shahverdi, the first elected council member of her village. He aims to break the long-standing patriarchal tradition by training teenage girls to stop child marriages on motorcycles. When the accusations arise, her identity falls into confusion when she questioned Sara’s intention to empower the girl.
The 95-minute film, co-produced by Iran, Germany, the US, Qatar, the Netherlands, Chile and Canada, was the recipient of the World Cinema Documentary Grand Jue Award at the Sundance Film Festival.
Created in 2024, Donkeybat is a nine-minute animation about a man who ignores his child and forgets his promise to take him to the Spanish Kite Festival. He spends all his time at work, ignoring his family and their dogs.
One day, the kids go to the festival themselves. Anyone who ignores their family in the stories he once told them is turned into a donkey bat. Dad is alone at work and jumps into a festival where he saves the child and returns to humanity.
The 2024 production, 4-minute “Fearish,” depicts a hungry fish searching for food in an aquarium, but when something unexpected hits the world suddenly destroys.
The 14-minute film “One of them,” made in 2025, deals with a young Iranian teenager protester. Iran is offered forced labor in lieu of imprisonment after being arrested by police. They become a terrifying mission in the darkness of the night.
The short film “Punishment,” produced in 2025 and ran for 17 minutes, will be held at elementary school. After a teacher punishes a black student severely, the student develops severe stud and speech impairment. Doctors will diagnose this problem as a result of psychological trauma.
“Razeh Del” is jointly produced by Iran, Italy and the UK. The 2024 film, 27 minutes, is two girls who sent a letter to the first women’s newspaper in Iran in 1998, titled “Zan.” While waiting for publication, they thought of making an impossible film. Using quotation and image interventions, “Razeh del” travels through the parallel history of war on the image of women.
The 2025 production, “Sacrificed Meat” 29 minutes shows the family members who go to their parents’ homes and carry out their father’s annual tradition at Eid Al Ada. After sacrificing the sheep, they distribute the meat to their neighbors and acquaintances. Everything continues normally until the mother of a family, whose day is so important, realizes an urgent problem.
Recognised as one of Kosovo’s biggest film festival and one of the top film and musical events in Southeastern Europe, Dokufest is a festival that innovates the EFA of short films and a BAFTA-qualified festival for short pants.
August will bring film and improvisation screening venues in the historic city centre with a selection of over 200 carefully selected films from around the world, bringing top international music and local musical performances to perform at Docnuitis.
The documentary’s photo exhibitions, discussions, masterclasses and the lively atmosphere of the city all enhance the festival’s appeal and become a must-have event in this part of the world.
Photo: “Sacrificed Meat” scene
SS/SAB