The feature film “The Prince of Bubuieci”, directed by Ivan Naniev, won the Audience Choice Award at the 2nd Toji Somon International Film Festival in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. The festival screened the film as part of the competitive program in GBAO – Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region, expanding the festival’s reach beyond the capital.
Producer Sergiu Scobioală said: “The audience reaction was excellent, and the jury praised our approach — using humor to address social topics like discrimination. Our goal was to open sensitive conversations without being preachy.”
“The Prince of Bubuieci” is a contemporary tragicomedy that follows a university professor and an African prince who, after a false accusation, ends up under house arrest in the home of his Moldovan fiancée’s parents. The film explores cultural clashes, systemic corruption, and the transformative power of empathy, blending drama and comedy throughout.
At the gala on October 19 at the Sadriddin Aini Opera and Ballet Theatre, the festival’s Grand Prize went to “Fish on the Hook / Моҳӣ дар шаст”, an Iran–Tajikistan co-production. The competition featured 36 films (16 feature films and 20 shorts) selected from roughly 300 submissions, 150 of which passed the initial screening.
The festival, held from October 15–20, showcased over 40 films from 15 countries and included Iranian Film Days, as well as screenings in Sughd, Khatlon, and GBAO. Vice Prime Minister Dilrabo Mansuri attended the ceremony.
Director Ivan Naniev said: “I make films for the audience; that’s why the Audience Award is the most important prize for me at any festival. Thank you, Dushanbe, for the energy and the full theater. I also invite the public to see ‘The Power of Love,’ my feature currently in cinemas.”
The film was produced by Realitatea Film in co-production with Shepherd Company, with support from the Content Fund and the European Union.