Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom won the award for best film at the International Film Festival of Resistance in Tehran, Iran, on Thursday evening, the film’s producer Anant Singh said.
“We are honoured to receive the best film award at the International Film Festival of Resistance, especially as the people of Iran have a special place in their hearts for Mr Mandela,” Singh said in a statement.
“We are pleased that we could screen Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom in a country with a rich film culture and extremely talented filmmakers and with the audience being devoted cinephiles.”
The festival aims to expand the culture of resistance.
Other films in the running for the award included Algeria’s 2013 Academy Award submission Zabana and No, an Oscar-nominated Chilean film.
Hossein Panahi, of the International Film Festival of Resistance, said in the statement it was a privilege to have had the film about former president Nelson Mandela’s life in the festival.
“Mr Mandela was one of the greatest statesmen of our time and epitomised moral leadership. His story as depicted in the film is truly inspirational.”