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Hollywood Press – Los Angeles
“My Little Moon,” directed by Ali Atshani and produced by American Brightlight Film Productions, has been nominated in five major categories — including Best Film and Best Director — at the 5th edition of the Universal Movie Awards (UNIMA), one of West Africa’s significant international film events held annually in Lagos, Nigeria.
The Universal Movie Awards (UNIMA), founded in 2020 by Hope Obioma Opara, has quickly emerged as one of the most respected film festivals in West Africa. Dedicated to elevating professional standards in global cinema and television, the festival brings together filmmakers from the United States, Europe, Africa, Asia, and beyond.
This year’s ceremony will take place in Surulere, Lagos, with the winners to be announced at the closing event on November 29, 2025.
Over the past five years, UNIMA has gained recognition for promoting cultural development, cinematic excellence, and international collaboration. Supported by leading Nigerian media institutions — including Silverbird Cinemas — the festival showcases outstanding works from around the world and highlights innovative storytelling across genres.
This year, Atshani’s “My Little Moon” stands out as one of the key titles in competition, earning nominations in the following major categories:
Nominations for “My Little Moon”
Best Film
Best Director — Ali Atshani
Best Cinematography — Koohyar Kalari
Best Editing — Roozbeh Kolbas
Best Makeup/Hairstyling — Farzaneh Zardasht
UNIMA is one of the few African festivals known for its strong emphasis on technical craftsmanship, professional standards, and rigorous evaluation of filmmaking.
“My Little Moon” has already garnered critical acclaim at several international festivals, including the Canada Film Festival, Kansas City Festival, Santa Fe Film Festival, Riverside Film Festival, and many others.
The film tells the touching and contemporary story of two teenage girls who develop a deep online friendship that transcends borders and cultural divides. One lives in the United States and the other in Iran — and together they prove that love, empathy, and human connection know no boundaries, regardless of distance or inequalities in the world.
Cast
The film stars:
Natalia Polo, Nicole Amato, Brent Kublick, and Matthew Fehrman.
Main Crew of “My Little Moon”
Writer & Director: Ali Atshani
Director of Photography: Koohyar Kalari
Makeup Designer: Farzaneh Zardasht
Production Manager: Siavash Tarazandehpour
Photographer: Hadi Akhoondi
1st AD & Scheduler: Sepehr Mikaeili
Assistant Producer: Anna McNiven
Camera Operator: Reza Kabiri
Editor: Roozbeh Kolbas
Produced by: American Brightlight Film Productions