TEHRAN, May 30 (Mehr News Agency) -- Director Jafar Panahi's "Offside" has won its 11th prize, the best feature film award at the first annual Little Rock Film Festival, which was held in the United States from May 17 to 20.

Celebrated Iranian director Jafar Panahi has won numerous awards, including the Human Rights Award at the 2006 Ljubljana Film Festival and the Silver Bear at the 2006 Berlin International Film Festival.

"Offside" is about six Iranian girls who disguise themselves as boys in order to enter Tehran's Azadi Stadium to watch the 2006 World Cup Asian zone qualifier between Iran and Bahrain but who are arrested one by one.

The film was inspired by director Jafar Panahi's daughter, who decided to attend a game, even though females are barred from Iranian stadiums for football matches. The film was shot in Tehran but has still not been screened in Iran.

... Payvand News - 5/30/07 ...