The Iranian short animated film 'Distant Place' won second place in the 'over 6 years old' age category at the XVI International Youth Film Festival 'Light to the World,' which was held in Russia.
The animation was created in collaboration by Borou Farshad and Abbas Ghader Mohseni and is a product of the Center for Artistic Experience and New Ideas of the Institute of Intellectual Development of Children and Youth of Iran—Kanun.
The festival, which concluded last week in the Yaroslavl region of Russia, received over 3929 entries from 120 countries, with 80 films from 20 countries selected for the final program.
The plot of 'Distant Place' tells the story of a cow that decides to leave its farm in search of a distant place. During this journey, the main character gains a new understanding of itself and its life.
Iranian animation has previously participated in several international events. Its achievements include official selection at the Filmmaker Sessions event in the UK (Volume 11), a 'Special Mention' nomination at the Films That Move festival in the United States, and participation in the official section of the VisiOn Film Festival in Italy.
The 'Light to the World' festival, founded in 2011, is dedicated to children and youth. Its goal is to support young filmmakers and promote artistic, moral, and educational values through cinema. Since its founding, the festival has become one of the largest international youth film events in Russia, gathering nearly 2500 young filmmakers and children's studios.
The final program of the 2026 festival included screenings, discussions, creative meetings, and other cultural events in several cities of the Yaroslavl region, including Yaroslavl, Rybinsk, Uglich, and Tutayev. The event is organized as a platform for uniting young filmmakers, children's studios, and specialists involved in film production and education.