Tehran – Iranian film director Sonia Nouli won two awards at the closing ceremony of the 9th Toronto Nollywood International Film Festival (TNIFF) held in Toronto, Canada on September 13th.
Nouri had attended the festival with two short films, “For Sale” and “Additional Order,” both of which were one of the winners, Ilna reported.
“For Sale” won the Best Female Filmmaker (Producer/Director) Award, and “Additional Order” won the Best Director Award.
In a brief speech after winning the Best Women Filmmaker Award on Stage, she thanked all the cast and crew, her parents, and dedicated the award to all Iranian women who bravely fought to achieve their dreams and goals.
Both films are written, directed and produced by Nouri and Seven Skies Entertainment.
“For Sale” is an 8-minute drama released in 2024. The story revolves around a woman who works as a toilet cleaner and struggles with the decision to abort her child. When she faces this personal challenge, she also encounters the broader problems and difficulties that other women around her face.
The story explores her emotional journey and the women’s social struggles in harsh environments. Cast includes Behi Jadidi, Sara Asghari, Nadia Hessam and Bahar Bayat
“Additional Judgment” is a 12-minute drama released in 2024. It tells the story of a young nurse in a nursing home. This begins to quietly revenge on the elderly, in an institutional indifference.
Behi Jadidi, Taqi Azmodeh, Nadia Hessam, Kamyar Esmaeili, Ali Yasan and Abidia Yahi are in the cast.
Sonia Nouli is an award-winning filmmaker, writer and creative entrepreneur. Her debut book, Seventh Floor, is a deep journey into self-awareness and divine connections, leading readers to consciously master their thoughts and emotions and match them with higher internal frequencies.
As a director, Sonia’s short films were recognized at the prestigious international festival, and she won the best Iranian short film award. Her film storytelling often explores psychological and spiritual themes, mixing art with introspection.
She is also the founder of a mobile app designed to support filmmakers with film inspiration, professional guidance, filling in the creativity and technology to enhance the film’s new voice.
As a multicultural film festival, the Toronto Nollywood International Film Festival emphasizes innovation, expression and inclusion, providing a creative space for Canada and international cinema. Recognised as the first Canadian festival in North America with Nollywood ties that receive this distinction, Tinf continues to serve as a hub for diverse storytelling, celebrating the highest standards of Canadian cinema.
The prestigious film event has been recognized as one of the Academy Award-winning festivals. It is also the IMDB and Telefilm Canada-Reacifying Festival, which are registered as Toronto-based non-profit organizations.
SS/SAB