Babak Hajepashi's film 'Land of Angels' has been selected for the official section of the 14th Asian Film Festival in Barcelona (AFFBCN). The festival started in Barcelona, Spain, on October 22 and will run until November 1.
The film tells the story of the suffering of children in Gaza and demonstrates the human consequences of war through the experience of a woman who tries to survive by protecting a group of innocent children from the horrors of the conflict, according to ILNA.
Against the backdrop of bombings and military operations in Palestine, the story follows the difficult and brave path of a woman who finds herself on the front lines. As everything collapses around her, the main character takes on the dangerous task of surviving in wartime while simultaneously trying to protect, feed, and guide a vulnerable group of innocent children, keeping them safe from the horrors of armed confrontation.
From the film's perspective, it presents a deep human portrait of the instinct to protect, the loss of childhood innocence, and the resilience of the civilian population in extreme circumstances. The film features Arab actors and focuses on the lives, dreams, and struggles of children against the backdrop of the war in Palestine.
Instead of depicting the conflict solely through political or military events, the film examines it from the perspective of civilians, especially children whose lives have been severely affected by violence.
The production was shot in Tehran over a year and a half. International screenings of the film began with its participation in the Kazan festival after a successful showing at the national festival in Iran.
'Land of Angels' won the Grand Prix for Best Feature Film at the 22nd Kazan International Film Festival 'Altyn Minbar'. Before appearing in Kazan, 'Land of Angels' was the most acclaimed film at the 44th Fajr International Film Festival in Iran, where it won five 'Simorgh Crystal' awards and eight honorary diplomas.
Among the Fajr awards, Hajepashi received the special jury prize for directing, and Syrian actress Sulaf Fahavardji was recognized for her performance. The film also received awards for set design, visual effects, and other categories.
Babak Hajepashi is the director and screenwriter. After a successful career in television, he achieved immediate international critical recognition with his debut feature film 'In the Embrace of a Tree' (2023), a drama about family discord, which was officially selected to represent Iran at the Academy Awards.
With 'The Land of Angels' (2026), Hajepashi serves as screenwriter and director, creating a humanitarian drama dedicated to the victims of modern conflicts in the Middle East. He was also officially selected as Iran's submission for the 99th Academy Awards in the category of Best International Feature Film.
The Asian Film Festival in Barcelona is organized by Casa Asia. In line with its mission to promote contemporary Asian cinema, the festival showcases over one hundred films reflecting the latest independent, experimental, and auteur cinema from across the continent.
The selection includes works from 25 countries in the Asia-Pacific region, most of which were made between 2025 and 2026. This edition pays special attention to developing film industries in countries such as Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Mongolia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Cambodia, as well as established industries with a long history at the festival, including Iran, India, China, South Korea, Japan, and the Philippines.
The program also includes films from Hong Kong, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam, as well as works from Australia and New Zealand.
According to its director, Menene Grasa Balaguera, AFFBCN aims to establish itself as a leading international showcase for Asian cinema and continues to attract new audiences. 'We want more viewers to discover the vitality and talent of these film industries and help ensure that their growing recognition translates into a greater presence in cinemas and at festivals. We are committed to cinema that brings us closer to the cultural diversity of Asia and invites us to understand the world from different perspectives.'