The 2023 film Seven Winters in Tehran captured the attention of the jury at the 7th AEI Film Festival Cyprus, winning the Best Documentary award on Sunday, November 3, 2024, at the festival's closing ceremony. The event was attended by Deputy Minister of Culture Vassiliki Kassianidou, Australian High Commissioner to Cyprus Fiona McKergow, and many attendees.

Following a recent incident on Saturday, November 2, when a woman was arrested in Tehran for protesting Iran's morality police reprimand by walking outside a university in her underwear after being chastised for not wearing her hijab properly, Seven Winters in Tehran resonates even more strongly today.

The award-winning documentary tells the true story of 19-year-old Reyhaneh Jabbari from Iran, who, after killing her would-be rapist in 2007, became a beacon of courage in the fight against injustice and oppression. Her story highlights the struggles of those who dare to speak out in the face of fear and censorship. The film draws attention to the global need for freedom of speech, justice, and dignity, reminding us that the struggle for these rights transcends country, religion, or culture.

Reyhaneh Jabbari was executed for murder after spending seven years in prison in Tehran. According to the AEI Film Festival jury, Seven Winters in Tehran, directed by Steffi Niederzoll, won the Best Feature Documentary award as a "story of strength and indomitable spirit that pays tribute to those who bravely challenge oppression."

The announcement notes that the 7th AEI Film Festival offered documentary enthusiasts a showcase of quality films from around the world from October 26 to November 3, 2024, at the Costas and Rita Severis Foundation in old Nicosia. The festival's awards were presented as follows:

• Best Feature Documentary: Seven Winters in Tehran, directed by Steffi Niederzoll.

• Best Directing in a Feature Documentary: Penelope McDonald for the Australian film Audrey Napanangka.

• Best Cinematography in a Feature Documentary: the Spanish film Pico Reja, directed by Remedios Malvárez and Arturo Andújar, with cinematography by Luis Castilla.

• Best Medium-Length Documentary: the French documentary Aphrodite of Milos, directed by Natasha Giler.

• Best Directing in a Medium-Length Documentary: Kerem Soyyilmaz for the Turkish film Searching for Rodakis.

• Best Cinematography in a Medium-Length Documentary: the Albanian documentary Zoje (2024), directed and shot by Pandeli Ceco.

• Best Short Documentary: Mother Truckers, directed by Paula Romero.

• Best Directing in a Short Documentary: Handil Alramly for the Palestinian documentary Three Nights in Haifa.

• Best Cinematography in a Short Documentary: the Cypriot short documentary Ermoupolis, directed by Charalambos Margaritis.

Additionally, Adonis Christoforou was honored at this year's AEI Film Festival for his contributions to photography and directing. His award was presented on Tuesday, October 29.

On December 6 and 7, 2024, the AEI Film Festival 2024 will travel to Limassol, at the Tasos Papadopoulos Building of the Cyprus University of Technology (TEPAK).