Iranian filmmaker Khosro Masoumi’s ‘the Bear’ has been named the Best Feature Film at the Golden Goblet Awards of the 15th Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF).

Masoumi received a Golden Goblet on Sunday at SIFF’s closing ceremony in Shanghai Grand Theater, Shanghai, China.

The Bear is a tragic drama about a war veteran who is struggling with the reality of life after returning from the Iraq-Iran war in the 80s. 

The film is the Iranian director’s tenth and the second to win a top prize for the best feature film at the festival. Masoumi’s Tradition of ‘Lover Killing’ also won SIFF’s Golden Goblet back in 2004. 

Masoumi is the only director who has won the Golden Goblet awards twice in the history of SIFF. 

After receiving the award, Masoumi told the audience that the film was picked unanimously by the jury as the best feature film in the festival, and that it was warmly received at the festival. “This warm welcome creates great moments for us,” he said. 

He also expressed hope to return to the festival as a Golden Goblet jury member next year. 
Mohammad Bozorgnia's Maritime Silk Road, Masoud Naqqashzadeh's Child and the Angel, Alireza Raiesian’s At the Age of 40, Nader Moqaddas’s Family Relationships are the movies that were presented in the special screening program. 

Iran’s prominent woman filmmaker Rakhshan Bani-Etemad attended served as a Jury member in the festival. 
Producer Javad Norowz Beigi, who was also present at the ceremony, described the film’s success as a great honor for the Iranian cinema. 

About 300 films from China and many countries around the world, vying for the Golden Goblet Awards, were screened in 28 movie theaters in Shanghai. 

Founded in 1993, the Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) is China’s only A-category international film festival. 

The 15th Shanghai International Film Festival was held from June 16 to 24, 2012.