Dawood Helmandi’s “Paikar” Won Three Awards at IDFA

The documentary "Paikar", directed by Afghan filmmaker Dawood Helmandi, claimed three major awards at the 38th International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA). The film received the Best First Feature Award, a Special Mention in the Best Dutch Film category, and the FIPRESCI Award, presented by the International Federation of Film Critics.

The IDFA jury described Paikar as a “broad and courageous” film that offers a profound exploration of a family shaped by generations of war and displacement.

The FIPRESCI jury highlighted the film for its outstanding cinematography, sincere storytelling, and realistic depiction, emphasizing how it portrays the father-son relationship within a broader context of migration and dispersed family life.

According to the juries, the film presents this relationship in a poetic yet universal manner, offering a nuanced view of refugees’ experiences while examining family ties that transcend borders and cultural traditions.

The 97-minute documentary traces multiple generations of the Helmandi family, depicting their experiences of migration and the long-term impact of war. It also includes a personal narrative of Dawood Helmandi, who returns to Iran and Afghanistan after years abroad to reconnect with his father.

Paikar is directed by Dawood Helmandi and produced by Frank Hoeve and Katja Dreijer of BALDR Film.