5th KIIFF - Nominees

Best Feature Film Nominee: Maestro Directed by Emad Hosseini

Golnoosh needs a recommendation letter from her professor, Nima Edris for applying a university in Austria. When she goes to his house to get the letter, Nima harasses her and she goes out without the letter. After a while, Alireza, who is Golnoosh fiancé comes to his house and tries to punish Nima…

Best Feature Film Nominee: In the Arms of the Tree Directed by Babak Khajehpasha

The complex crisis of Kimia and Farid life, who have been married for twelve years, destroys the beautiful world of their children, children who know nothing but simplicity and kindness in life.

Best Feature Film Nominee: Dreamland Directed by Mohsen Enayati

Dream Land is the story of a boy named Arat who decides to save his city from destruction. Pasha, his funny and cute friend, and Tamara, the smart and clever girl of the story, are his companions on this path.

Best Feature Documentary Nominee: Winter Girls Directed by Behrouz Nooranipour

The story of Yazidi women in a wake of a heavy war, after a terrible trauma, they are ready to return to their imperfect life, but their children from ISIS terrorists have become their most controversial obstacle to join their families.

Best Feature Documentary Nominee: HOME: The Story of Zak Moradi Directed by Trevor Whelan

Home, The Story of Zak Moradi’, explores the journey of a refugee, from fleeing war to building a new home and eventually returning to reconnect with his homeland.

This documentary is passionately told by Zak, his brother Mokthar and sister, Halala.

During the long and drawn out war between Iran and Iraq, Zak’s parents were forced to flee and leave everything behind in their homeland of Iran for fear of death. After a decade of surviving in the camps, on the 16th January 1991, Zak Moradi is born into a Kurdish refugee camp in Ramadi, Iraq and on the very next day, the Gulf War begins. It is here, they suffer many more years of hardship under the oppressive Saddam Hussein regime, until Zak and his family are given a chance at a new life in Ireland.

Best Feature Documentary Nominee: Homeless Street Artist Directed by Tysen Knight

Homeless Street Artist Documentary follows the lives of three homeless artists as they create art to survive. With the odds stacked against them.

Best Feature Screenplay Nominee: The Romanian Incident Written by Simon King

A Cold War KGB agent arrives at a Romanian hotel during a raging blizzard only to become involved in an assassination, a murder, and a collection of international spies.

Best Feature Screenplay Nominee: Alta California Written by Lynn Elliott

In 1780s California, a conflicted mixed-blood scout, torn between his native heritage and Spanish conquerors, is thrust into a battle of survival and identity as he navigates oppressive mission life and brutal colonizers.

Best Feature Screenplay Nominee: Echo of Drums and... Written by Roland William Oliver

After the brutal murder of his fellow student friend Tarquin, Glenn a young lawyer working in Fulham travels to Northeast England to investigate why Tarquin died.

While in Tyneside he uncovers a conspiracy which started far away from England in the middle of the 1960s. With a number of deaths prior to Tarquin's, Glenn find the information that got his friend killed, and in doing so draws the killers onto himself. He and his girlfriend Tracy end up in County Durham where they confront the killers of their friend and solve the decades-long mystery of a number of deaths of British servicemen.

Best Feature Screenplay Nominee: Beyond The Summer Of Love Written by Michael Duncan

Following the trials and tribulations of 3 friends in Brooklyn from 1965 to 1999. Via Juvenile hall, Woodstock and a roadie job in Max's Kansas City sees Jack rub elbows with the musical elite of the time, but also addiction affects his relationship with friends and family.

Best Short Film Nominee: Once Upon A Time Directed by Hussain Alahmed

In moments of truce with her exhausting reality and in a state of nostalgia, the lady tries to continue reading her favorite novel, but her lover and the little girl have a different opinion!

Best Short Film Nominee: The Dreams Directed by Mariia Baeva

Young ballerina Alicia dreams of performing on stage, in the evenings she watches recordings of productions and dances in front of the TV, presenting herself as a prima in «Swan Lake». In reality, not everything is so easy, she has strict parents, and in school, she is required to do everything. The girl has a favorite antique toy - a tin soldier with whom she can talk and share all her anxieties. One day, after falling asleep, Alicia finds herself in a haunted castle and is met by a boy soldier who resembles her toy from the shelf. He tells her about a monster king who cries and plunges the castle into darkness with his sorrows. Together with a new friend, the girl sets out on a journey to break the spell from the monster and the castle. Only a young ballerina who lives the dream of being on stage can do it.

Best Short Film Nominee: Face the Music Directed by S.N. Watts

Rockstar Ryan Bentley faces addiction, a failing marriage, and a manipulative manager as he prepares for a high-stakes live interview. With pressure mounting, he must decide: keep up the act—or finally face the music, even if it cost everything.

Best Short Film Nominee: The Head Directed by Seyed Ali Rezaei

The head of Mirza Kuchak Khan Jangali (an Iranian national hero in the fight against colonialism and foreign aggression against Iran during World War II) is severed from his body, and the news is announced to Tehran in a telegraph office in the forest. Meanwhile, a teenage boy who is a fan of Mirza learns of the incident.

Best Short Documentary Nominee: Les choses changent Directed by Emma Guerrero Dufour, Laurie Hétu

How does one become a woman? Les choses changent paints a portrait of three teenage girls, Dana, Juliette, and Yasmine, as they transform into young adults before our eyes. This emancipatory narrative spans four years, offering an intimate glimpse into the daily lives of these young women, revealing a burgeoning feminist perspective. Shot in Montreal, the film unfolds their unique, personal journey—a story that may echo with many others.

Best Short Documentary Nominee: Storyteller Directed by Shahrzad Arshadi

Dengbêj is the story of two young women from the mountains of Kurdistan. Peyman, a brave and kind leader with a soul as beautiful as the great mountains of Kurdistan and Viyan a lionheart and storyteller with a magical voice from heaven.

Best Short Documentary Nominee: Elle Disait Je Suis Eau Imprécise Directed by Mélina Costa

À la suite du décès de sa grand-mère, la cinéaste la cherche dans sa maison encore empreinte de son souvenir, palpable. Son absence nouvelle et les traces de sa présence cohabitent. La petite-fille trouve des oeuvres de sa grand-mère dont une l’interpelle : elle y plonge. Chaque élément de l’oeuvre deviendra un indice pour se rendre jusqu’à elle. La cinéaste posera sa caméra là où Suzanne s’est mise en scène, s’installera dans sa posture de création, ira à sa rencontre.

Best Short Animation Nominee: Making Emmie Smile Directed by Abby Vo, John Vo, Ken Yoffe, Ellen Weisberg

In "Making Emmie Smile," family members attempt to make the child happy by offering her different material things, only to succeed in getting the child to smile by offering personal attention. The basic them of "Making Emmie Smile" is the importance of fulfilling your child's emotional needs.

Best Kurdish Film/Filmmaker Nominee: Buried Steps Directed by Arastoo Mafakheri

A Kurdish man and woman hide the body of their fighting daughter in a suitcase and want to take her to their homeland and bury her at a wedding. But they are caught by border guards on the Iraqi-Turkish border.

Best Kurdish Film/Filmmaker Nominee: Hozan Directed by Sana Yozi

Hozan, a young girl living with her father, claims that her late mother sent her a letter. Out of love for his daughter, the father takes her to see her mother—and to his shock, they truly encounter her.

Best Kurdish Film/Filmmaker Nominee: Blood Spell Directed by Soran Rahimi, Najmeh sadat

When a young boy hears that a psychic can heal his father's spinal cord by giving him a recipe of some ingredients including antelope's blood, he tries to go hunting against his family's will (his father is an Environmental protection patrol who has also been injured by a hunter).

Best Kurdish Film/Filmmaker Nominee: Red Directed by Shahoo Ahmadi

Red is the story of the birth of love and two mature teenagers who face the first obstacle with the utmost enthusiasm.

Best Kurdish Film/Filmmaker Nominee: Bint El Shalabiyah Directed by Saro Heidari

In the mid-1980s, a young girl in war-engaged Kurdistan tries to learn music solely by ear. Her family suppresses her grits. Despite these struggles, as the air raid siren blares, she chooses not to follow her family to the shelter—a decision made to taste a few moments of freedom, even at the cost of her life.

Best Short Script Nominee: Waiting for Cloto Written by J. Julian Vacas

"In the contemporary era where the present, past and future are scattered; Clotho remains in mortal form. Her goal will be to find the rest of her sisters to start the loom of destiny and return to the natural cycle of time"

Best Short Script Nominee: Popcorn Shrimp and Dishwater Written by Jack Schurman

Horace and Jeremy are roommates at the end of their rope…or maybe just lost dreams fighting for space in the same head. “Popcorn Shrimp and Dishwater” explores the impossibility of escaping yourself, and how sometimes a blood let is required to find equilibrium.

Best Short Script Nominee: The Days of Knight: Chapter 3 Written by John P Martinez

A highly trained operative, belonging to a clandestine ancient group of expert mercenaries, is given a mission to recover a valuable item for one of the 13 most influential families on Earth. As war breaks out and alliances formed centuries ago crumble, survival becomes the top priority for everyone involved.

Best Short Script Nominee: The Scapegoat Written by Ali Fard

A woman in her 40s, who has confessed to the murder of her brother-in-law, returns to the scene of the crime with the investigation team to reconstruct the murder.

In the courtyard of their home, she reenacts the killing in front of her son.

After the reenactment is complete, and at the request of the investigator, the boy recounts the events differently—offering another version of what happened.

Best Director Nominee: Mariia Baeva For The Dreams 

Bayeva Maria - writer, director, singer. Born in Nadym, YNAO. She studied in Spain, at the ADOS Academy, specialty «History of Spain», then graduated from the Saint Petersburg State Institute of Cinema and Television in the specialty «Dramaturgy», in-depth studied the history of cinema. In 2019, she published her book, but tries to keep it quiet. She worked at the open-air film studio «LenDok», at the moment she creates projects in collaboration with Alexey Neymyshev (Neymaxxmultimedia, future projects «Ernest», «Ether»). He won several awards at the KIT Festival for his screenplays. She was one of the writers in development and in the public field of the game Theo. Shot documentary film. Polyglot. There is a music group - AVLU.

Best Director Nominee: Hussain Alahmed For Once Upon A Time

Hussain Al Ahmad , Filmmaker and actor I started acting when i was 13 years old , and i started directing when i was 19 years old , since i was young , i have loved photography , but my actual start was in 2021 in the movie the unknown , which is my first directing movie , i got 28 Awards for the best short film , best director , best editor , more than 40 nominations around the world , all my films are produced by individuals only , there are no production companies ( independent films ).

Best Director Nominee:  S.N. Watts For Face the Music

Shannon Nathaniel Watts (S.N. Watts) is an independent filmmaker based in Southern Sydney, Australia. As the founder of S.N. Watts Productions, Shannon has made a name for himself by blending the horrific, hilarious, dangerous, and absurd in narratives that explore personal truths. Drawing from diverse influences—literature, film and music his work is characterised by a fearless embrace of artistic ultra-violence, surrealism, and a commitment to pushing storytelling boundaries. Shannon's unique style captivates and challenges audiences, offering controversial art that leaves a lasting impact in the realms of film and visual arts.

Best Director Nominee: Trevor Whelan For HOME: The Story of Zak Moradi

Trevor Whelan is an Irish director, writer and cinematographer with a passion for documentary filmmaking. Having worked in the camera department on numerous films, TV series and commercials, Trevor has learned from some of the world’s best filmmakers.

Trevor focuses on creating compelling and inspirational stories conveying strong messages. With a small, skilled crew he succeeds in delivering captivating cinematic work that is outstanding in the global forum.

Best Leading Actress Nominee: Signe Naranjo in She Came From Outer Space!

Signe Naranjo is known for She Came from Outer Space (2024), Love Sick (2025) and Dead Ringer (2024).

Best Leading Actress Nominee: Maral Baniadam in In the Arms of the Tree

Maral Baniadam is known for The Salesman (2016), Parvin (2024) and In the Arms of the Tree (2023).

Best Leading Actress Nominee: Inés Klein in Waiting for Cloto

Inés Klein Alas is known for Les Petites Ailes' Mr. Blue (2020), Waiting for Cloto (2025) and Vanagloria: Albores de un Nuevo Comienzo (2023).

Best Leading Actress Nominee: Viana Hosseini in Bint El Shalabiyah

Viana Hosseini is known for Bint El Shalabiyah (2025).

Best Leading Actor Nominee: Hassan Madjooni in Maestro

Mohammad Hassan Madjooni is an Iranian television actor and theater director born on January 18, 1969 Zanjan, Iran. He is a graduate of "Dramatic Literature". Hassan Madjooni is also the director of the Liu Theater Group. He was nominated for the Golden Statue for best actor in a Leading role at the 20th Iranian Cinema Festival for his role in "Pig (2018)" directed by Mani Haghighi.

Best Leading Actor Nominee: Jeremy Culhane in Popcorn Shrimp and Dishwater

Jeremy Culhane was born on 17 February 1992 in Los Angeles, California, USA. He is an actor and writer, known for The Sex Lives of College Girls (2021), Make Some Noise (2022) and American Vandal (2017).

Best Leading Actor Nominee: S.N. Watts in Face the Music

Shannon Nathaniel Watts (S.N. Watts) is an independent filmmaker based in Southern Sydney, Australia. As the founder of S.N. Watts Productions, Shannon has made a name for himself by blending the horrific, hilarious, dangerous, and absurd in narratives that explore personal truths. Drawing from diverse influences—literature, film and music his work is characterised by a fearless embrace of artistic ultra-violence, surrealism, and a commitment to pushing storytelling boundaries. Shannon's unique style captivates and challenges audiences, offering controversial art that leaves a lasting impact in the realms of film and visual arts.

Best Leading Actor Nominee: Majid Potki in The Head

Majid Potki is known for The Opposition (2022), Red Square (2021) and North by Southwest (2025).

Best Supporting Actress Nominee: Adrienne Sparks in She Came From Outer Space!

Adrienne Sparks was born on 30 June 1982 in Austin, Texas, USA. She is an actress, known for The Exploding Boy (2023), Look Up! (2020) and Lights, Camera, Catastrophe (2025).

Best Supporting Actress Nominee: Sarah Jane Starr in Face the Music

Sarah Jane Starr is known for Face the Music (2025).

Best Supporting Actress Nominee: Fatemeh Mirzaei 

Fatemeh Mirzaei is known for Drowning in Holy Water (2020), Motherless (2022) and Rona, Azim's Mother (2018).

Best Supporting Actress Nominee: Hedieh Hosseininezhad in Maestro

Hedieh Hosseininezhad is known for Maestro (2023) and Taxidermy (2025).

Best Supporting Actor Nominee: Horace Gold in Popcorn Shrimp and Dishwater

Horace Gold is a multi-hypenated artist and self identifying bad boy (he cries a lot, don't tell him I told you that). He's a Meisner trained actor, he can be seen in NETFLIX'S 'MONSTER: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story', various national commercials, and also at the Silver Lake Erewhon, eating a salad. Horace is a Berklee College of Music trained jazz vocalist and published songwriter for pop artists. When not taking over the world, Horace spends his time plotting how to take over the world.

Best Supporting Actor Nominee: Tamer Husam in Once Upon A Time

Tamer Husam is known for Twelve minutes (2022), Once upon A Time (2025) and Unknown (2021).

Best Supporting Actor Nominee: Mohamad Saed Rashidi in Buried Steps

Mohamad Saed Rashidi is known for Buried Steps (2025).

Best Supporting Actor Nominee: Sajad Babaei in Maestro

Sajad Babaei is known for Maestro (2023), Majnoon (2024) and Lunar Eclipse (2021).

Best Cinematographer Nominee: Rua Meegan For HOME: The Story of Zak Moradi

Rua Meegan is known for Sing Street (2016), Frank (2014) and Tommy (2020).

Best Cinematographer Nominee: Hassan Aslani For The Scapegoat

Hassan Aslani is known for Movafeghate Osooli (2019), Bogzarid Mitra Bekhabad (2015), Gold Carrier (2018) and Wabel (2021).

Best Cinematographer Nominee: Konstantin Shamraev For The Dreams

Konstantin Shamraev is known for Skhvatka (2024), Likhoradka (2023) and Children of the Sun (2021).

Best Cinematographer Nominee: Anthony Vasiliadis For She Came From Outer Space!

Anthony Vasiliadis is known for NinetoFive (2010), Technophiliac (2008) and Dead Mom Card (2022).

Best Original Score Nominee: John Hresc For Face the Music

John Hresc is a sound designer and owner of the Sydney Sound Brewery a sound studio based in Sydney Australia. John's work includes recording, editing, sound designing and sound mixing, and spans, indie art house classics to award winning documentaries and features.. This versatility allows him to bring a dynamic energy to his work giving each project a unique and experienced approach.

Best Original Score Nominee: Avlu For The Dreams

Avlu is known for Les rêves (2024).

Best Original Score Nominee: Shahin Givechyan For Bint El Shalabiyah

Shahin Givechyan is known For Bint El Shalabiyah (2025).

Best Original Score Nominee: Behzad Abdi For Dreamland

Behzad Abdi is known for Grassland (2022), Aal (2010) and Domestic Killer (2017).

Best Sound Design Nominee: George Athanas For Once Upon A Time

George Antoine Athanas; born 17 June 1990 is a Syrian Lebanese Greek film score composer and music producer. His works are notable for integrating oriental Arabic music sounds with traditional orchestral arrangements. Since 2010, Athanas has composed music for over 25 artists, 3 films, and 2 documentaries. Athanas spent the early part of his career in Lebanon before moving to the United Arab Emirates. Athanas was born on 17 June 1990 in Latakia, West Syria. As a young child, he lived in Latakia, where he played the piano at home but had piano lessons only briefly, as he disliked the discipline of formal lessons. In one of his radio interviews, he said: "My formal training was two years of piano lessons. I couldn't handle any teacher. But I joined a band. I am self-taught. But I've always heard music in my head. And I'm a child of the 20th century; computers and internet knowledge came in very handy.

Best Sound Design Nominee: Jason Wells For She Came From Outer Space!

Jason Wells is known for Reconvergence (2012), Shanghai Faders (2017) and The Initiate (1998).

Best Sound Design Nominee: Valeriy Vorobyov For The Dreams 

Valeriy Vorobyov is known for Balet (2023), Zakhvat (2024) and Shulamah (2023).

Best Sound Design Nominee: Drew Arnett For Popcorn Shrimp and Dishwater

Drew Arnett is known for Emily the Criminal (2022), Absolution (2015) and The Utopia Conspiracy (2011).

Best Editor Nominee: Ciaran Murray For HOME: The Story of Zak Moradi

Ciaran Murray is known for Run, Johnny, Run (2014), HOME: The Story of Zak Moradi (2024) and Ice Cream (2014).

Best Editor Nominee: J. Julian Vacas For Waiting for Cloto

J. Julián Vacas is known for New Moon (2021), Waiting for Cloto (2025) and Ciudadano Anónimo (2017).

Best Editor Nominee: Jack Schurman For Popcorn Shrimp and Dishwater

Jack Schurman is an Emmy Award winning cinematographer. He has served as cinematographer on the Netflix series QB1 and Unnatural Selection, as well as the Apple+ Series Home. Jack also was cinematographer of “Jihad Rehab”, a feature length documentary which premiered in competition at Sundance in 2022.

Best Editor Nominee: Hussain Alahmed For Once Upon A Time

Hussain Al Ahmad , Filmmaker and actor I started acting when i was 13 years old , and i started directing when i was 19 years old , since i was young , i have loved photography , but my actual start was in 2021 in the movie the unknown , which is my first directing movie , i got 28 Awards for the best short film , best director , best editor , more than 40 nominations around the world , all my films are produced by individuals only , there are no production companies ( independent films ).

Best Costume Designer Nominee: Amin Fazeli For The Head

Amin Fazeli is known For The Head (2025).

Best Coustm Designer Nominee: Sofia Tyutrina For The Dreams

Sofia Tyutrina is known For The Dreams (2025).

Best Coustm Designer Nominee: J. Julian Vacas For Waiting for Cloto

J. Julian Vacas is known For Waiting for Cloto (2025).

Best Coustm Designer Nominee: Mohsen Yaghubi For Buried Steps

Mohsen Yaghubi is known For Buried Steps (2025).