The first-ever Pooyan Student Animation Festival wrapped up in Tehran with the announcement of its winners, celebrating outstanding student works in animation across Iran.
What Was the Pooyan Festival?
According to IBland’s News, the Pooyan Student Animation Festival, held for the first time at the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Tehran, concluded on Thursday, December 4, 2025.
This national event was designed to highlight the creative talent of young animators and students from across Iran.
The festival attracted 202 animation submissions, of which 25 standout works were shortlisted by the selection committee for the main competition.
A Youth-Driven Jury and Organization
In a rare approach, the selection committee was composed entirely of top animation students and recent graduates from various universities. Members included Marzieh Dehghanipour, Fariba Abdolkhani, Paria Sinaeian, Mina Mahmoudi, Taktam Roshan, Fatemeh Mohammadi, Narges Farhadzad, Mohammad Erfan Mohammadhassani, and Hossein Hedavand.
The main jury featured prominent figures from Iran’s animation scene such as Amir Mohammad Dehestani, Mahin Javaherian, Dr. Mohammad Fadavi, Hossein Molayemi, Babak Nekooei, and Farokh Yekdaneh.
Student organizers played key roles in the event’s success, including:
- Festival Director: Amirhossein Azadi
- Executive Secretary: Paria Sinaeian
- Art Director: Hossein Moein
- Financial & PR Manager: Amin Sa’adat
- Technical Manager: Amirhossein Akbari
- Editorial Chief: Peyman Jamshidian
- Documentary Directors: Mohammad Karimpoor & Ali Asghar Yazdanpanah Lari
- Digital Media Manager: Amir Mohammad Hatamzadeh
Major Winners of Pooyan Student Animation Festival 2024
- Grand Prize (Pooyan Trophy + 2g Gold +$2,500 Production Grant):
“Safarnak” by Samira Hosseini, praised for its imaginative world-building, cohesive narrative, and top-tier production quality. - Best Directing:
“A Black and White Story” by Mohammad Mahdi Ghazizadeh for artistic direction, visual composition, and strong storytelling.
Honorable Mention: “Maroot” by Zahra Azimi. - Best Animation (Animatic):
“Bug” by Ali Masoumi for dynamic motion, rhythm, and energy.
Honorable Mention: “Birdkind” by Sara Alimoradi. - Best Screenplay:
“The Path We’ve Taken” by Narges Fazeli, for its structured and humane narrative.
Honorable Mention: “In the Final Years of Life” by Mina Sadat Ayatollahi.
Audience Choice Awards
A key feature of this festival was the audience vote, collected during public and student screenings:
- 1- “Safarnak” by Samira Hosseini
- 2- “A Black and White Story” by Mohammad Mahdi Ghazizadeh
- 3- “The Man and the Window” by Fatemeh Ahmadi
Beyond the Competition
The Pooyan Student Animation Festival also hosted 12 expert panels, alongside curated screenings of internationally acclaimed short animations. The Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Tehran extended its appreciation to all participants and expressed its commitment to continue the festival in future editions.
Source: Mehrnews