Our Best Short Film winner will receive our custom Global Shorts statuette which we ship anywhere in the world, free of charge. The award is manufactured by Society Awards, the same awards company that manufactures the Golden Globe and the Emmy. All winners will receive our Global Shorts Winner laurels in black, white, and gold.
Title: The Persian Rug
Runtime: 29 min
Country: USA
Director: Gabriel Beristain
Placement: Award of Excellence + Best Music (Amotz Plessner)
Competition: March, 2026
Synopsis: The Persian Rug is an intimate portrait of a young Iranian woman navigating the tension between autonomy and belonging. As moments from her life overlap and echo, she becomes aware of the quiet compromises she has made in order to remain connected to family and culture. When these internal negotiations reach a breaking point, she is forced to confront a choice that will redefine her understanding of herself. The film unfolds through emotional continuity rather than linear time, allowing memory and present experience to inform one another. Restrained and performance-driven, The Persian Rug explores how personal freedom is often claimed not through dramatic rebellion, but through the courage to accept loss.