Iranian director Ashkan Rahgozar will join the jury panel at the upcoming Festival of Animation Berlin. The annual animation gathering will host international creative artists in Germany from October 8 through 11. Rahgozar will evaluate emerging talent in the New Talents competition alongside four distinguished industry professionals. The international jury includes acclaimed animation director Antje Heyn and experienced producer Franka Sachse. Furthermore, a specialized stop-motion designer completes the judging panel for the ninth annual festival edition.
The Iranian animator will simultaneously present his latest feature-length project during scheduled festival program events. Rahgozar will host a dedicated industry session focusing on hand-drawn animation production in Iran. The 90-minute feature Juliet and the King serves as a practical case study for discussing regional animation challenges. The narrative follows 19th-century monarch Nasser-al-Din Shah during an official diplomatic journey through France. Captivated by European theatrical arts, the ruler invites a French actress to perform Shakespeare in Tehran.
The animated feature blends historical settings with classic fairy-tale storytelling techniques to explore cross-cultural themes. Following its initial festival debut, the project collected six international awards across multiple international screening venues. German festival organizers routinely highlight artistic animation while connecting emerging artists with established global industry leaders. Consequently, Rahgozar’s jury participation provides a valuable platform for highlighting contemporary Iranian animation before international audiences.