The story revolves around Helia, a teenage girl who is celebrating her 13th birthday. However, her family starts to impose restrictions on her cycling, thinking that she has outgrown it.

A production of 2023, it is produced by the renowned Iranian actor Navid Mohammadzadeh. The screenplay has been written by Alizadeh together with Bahram and Bahman Ark. Samaneh Nourivand plays the main role in the film. 

Alizadeh has won the Best Screenplay award at the Tehran International Film Festival and the Best Short Film award at the Zanzibar International Film Festival for his first short film “Nahid” (2020). It also got a Special Mention at the Freiburg International Film Festival. “The Thirteenth Year” is his second short film.

Founded in 1982, INTERFILM, now in its 39th edition, is the oldest and largest short film festival in Berlin and has developed a charisma over four decades that attracts international filmmakers and local film fans alike to the cinemas every year. The festival, which qualifies for the Academy Awards, has long been renowned beyond German and European borders.

The 2023 edition of the event is slated to be held November 14-19 in Berlin, Germany.

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