Fereshteh Hosseini Wins Best Actress Award at the Pula Film Festival

Fereshteh Hosseini, an Afghan-born actress based in Iran, has won the Best Actress Award at the 72nd Pula International Film Festival in Croatia for her powerful performance in the film Dwelling Among the Gods.

Dwelling Among the Gods is a co-production of Serbia, Croatia, and Italy, directed by Serbian filmmaker Vuk Ršumović. The film was screened in the festival’s international competition section and received widespread acclaim from critics.

Held annually since 1954 in Croatia, the Pula Film Festival is one of the oldest and most prestigious film festivals in Southeastern Europe. Its top prize, the Golden Arena, is awarded each year to outstanding films and artists in various categories.

Hosseini dedicated her award to the women and girls of Afghanistan and Iran. In a message posted on her Instagram, she wrote:

“I dedicate this award to women who never stop fighting for their rights and who carry the dream of freedom in their hearts. To the strong women and girls of Afghanistan and Iran. And to the fight against racism.”

Last year, Hosseini also received the Best Actress Award at the Otranto Film Festival for her performance in the same film.

Living Among the Gods tells the story of a young Afghan woman named Fereshteh who migrates to Serbia with her husband and children as refugees. When she learns the heartbreaking news that her brother—who had arrived in the country a few weeks earlier—has drowned and been buried in an unmarked grave, she cannot accept the lack of dignity and identity in his burial. Determined to give him a proper and respectful burial, Fereshteh decides to stay in Belgrade and take on the challenge.

This decision leads her into a complex and grueling journey, facing bureaucratic systems, government institutions, and legal obstacles. The process not only transforms her own life but also affects her family in Afghanistan—eventually drawing her father into the struggle as well.

The film takes a deeply human, social, and psychological approach to themes of migration, identity, and the challenges faced by refugees. Hosseini’s performance has been praised by some critics as one of the most nuanced, believable, and emotionally resonant of the festival.