Award Rationale

LIKE FRIEND, LIKE DEER receives the Best Animation award for its ability to tell a complete story through images without relying on dialogue. Malek Eghbali transforms the drawn image into a poetic cinematic language capable of carrying both an environmental theme and a deeply human one.

The figure of the deer-man with his shattered antlers becomes a powerful symbol of the harm inflicted upon nature and of humanity’s estrangement from the spiritual forces that exist within the natural world. Through the teacher’s actions, the film gives form to responsibility, compassion, and care for others and for the world around us.

The hand-drawn animation is organically connected to the story and gives the film the timeless quality of an ancient folk legend. The unity of drawing, movement, symbolism, and narrative creates a sincere visual experience that also stands as a gesture of solidarity with environmental activists imprisoned in Iran.

Synopsis

After killing an illegal hunter, a wildlife ranger is placed in the custody of a soldier-teacher, who must escort him to a remote outpost.

Through the journey shared by the two characters, the film explores the connections and similarities between human beings and nature, while reflecting on responsibility, violence, compassion, and humanity’s relationship with the natural world.