In the Shadow of the Cypress Makes Oscars’ Cut

– “In the Shadow of the Cypress”, an Iranian animated short film, has scooted its way into the nominations for Academy Award for Best Animated Short.
– The film was directed by duo Hossein Molayemi and Shirin Sohani who gambled their pocket money to bring this project to life. Talk about a dicey investment!
– Despite working on a shoestring budget and receiving the cold shoulder from their government, they never let their vision of the project blur.

The Unflagging Desire of Hossein Molayemi & Shirin Sohani

– The dynamic duo, Molayemi and Sohani, showed great tenacity by creating an Oscar-nominated animation short with little backing.
– Being left out in the cold by their government may have felt chilling, but it didn’t cool their fiery ambition.
– The odds might have been stacked against them, but the pair have shown that you can turn pocket change into Oscar gold with enough belief and effort.

Triumphing Over Hurdles: A Not-So-Short Success Story

And there we have it folks, “Great things come in small packages”. Our favorite pair, Hossein Molayemi and Shirin Sohani, have taken a plucky gamble and may just end up taking home an Oscar for it. Who knew that you could go from pocket change producers to creating an Oscar nominee? It’s like David and Goliath meet Walt Disney Studios – and David’s gone and pulled out a sharp little animated pebble! They proved that you don’t need governmental support or an inflation-sized budget for stellar success in animation. It’s all about that glittering vision in your mind’s eye… and maybe a touch of rebellion, sweat, and tears. Better keep the tissues handy at the Oscars, not just for shedding tears but also because, who knows, they might just turn those tissues into another nomination next year!

Emerging from the Cypress Shadows, a significant contender for the Academy Award for Best Animated Short, provides an insight into the relentless perseverance of Iranian directors Hossein Molayemi and Shirin Sohani. Battling against budget constraints, lack of governmental backing, and economic sanctions, their film stands as a testimony to their indefatigable spirit. Emerging from the Cypress Shadows beautifully narrates a moving story of a father-daughter relationship against the backdrop of the father’s battle with PTSD, via the mesmerizing medium of geometric 2D animation.

Skwigly Online Animation Magazine had the pleasure of conversing with the directors, delving into the creation process of the film and the inception of the emotive narrative and captivating visual techniques.

What fueled the creation of the concept for the short?

Were there complexities involved in conveying these sophisticated themes without the use of dialogue?

The soundtrack of a wordless film plays a crucial role. So, how did the sound evolution come about for the film?

The film’s color palette is ardently vibrant. Could you shed light on how you crafted such an appearance?

SS: The film emanates a sense of melancholy, but is paradoxically depicted through bright and hopeful hues. Perhaps it’s an unconscious attempt to hint at the undercurrents of hope and love in the film, in spite of the inherent sadness. The intense heat of the Persian Gulf region also necessitated the application of such a color palette to depict the sweltering atmosphere appropriately.

The characters in the film have an ethereal, slender aspect. How did this design evolve?

Could you recommend some must-watch Iranian films?

Tune in for the 97th Academy Awards on March 2nd 2025 at 7pm ET/4pm ET (March 3rd at 12 am GMT)

Original article: https://www.skwigly.co.uk/in-the-shadow-of-the-cypress-qa/