Charm, a four-minute stop-motion animated short film written and directed by Iranian independent filmmaker Payam Shokouhirad, has won the Best Stop Motion award in the Animated Films category at the 2026 edition of The Pigeon International Film Festival (PIFF) in Iceland.
The festival took place from October 8–11, 2026, with screenings across Ísafjörður, Súðavík, and Þingeyri in Iceland’s Westfjords. The award is confirmed in the festival’s official 2026 awards announcement, and the film is featured in its official festival catalogue.
Charm tells the story of a lonely man who feels invisible to women until a curious alien creature arrives on Earth and accidentally takes every other man on the planet away. This unexpected event transforms the protagonist’s world and opens the door to an unusual new reality.
The award marks an important international recognition for Shokouhirad’s stop-motion work and adds another achievement to the film’s festival journey.
Film:Charm — Official PIFF 2026 page
Director: Payam Shokouhirad
Award: Best Stop Motion — Animated Films
Festival: The Pigeon International Film Festival (PIFF), Iceland, 2026