For 13 consecutive years, the True/False Film Festival has given out the True Vision Award, the only award given by the festival. It is given to an individual who is committed to the growth of nonfiction filmmaking.

This year, True/False has announced Mehrdad Oskouei as their 2016 winner of the True Vision Award for his contributions in the field of nonfiction filmmaking.

Oskouei is the thirteenth recipient of the True Vision Award. Past recipients include Adam Curtis (2015), Laura Poitras (2010), James Marsh (2011), Victor Kossakovsky (2012) and Amir Bar-Lev (2013).

Oskouei will be appearing at the festival with his newest work, “Starless Dreams.” The film tells the story of seven girls, all under 18, at a detention center in Tehran, Iran. The girls are imprisoned for committing serious crimes such as drug trafficking and manslaughter, and Oskouei explores the big question: What will happen when they are free?

“Starless Dreams” completes Oskouei’s documentary trilogy alongside the films, “It’s Always Late for Freedom” (2008) and “The Last Days of Winter” (2011).

In a news release from True/False, Oskouei talks about where he gets his inspirations for his films, saying: “I am convinced that a documentary filmmaker should at times show images of humanity’s suffering with the hopes of putting an end to such suffering. All my films have been made with this firm belief.”

With “Starless Dreams” as the final installment, the viewer can find that Oskouei sticks to his style of filmmaking as he captivates his audience with the struggles of the Iranian youth.

_You can catch “Starless Dreams” Friday at The Globe, Saturday, March 5 at 4:00 p.m. at the Missouri Theatre, and Sunday, March 6th at 8:30 p.m. at Ragtag Cinema._