Sadaf Foroughi's Ava is the winner of this year's Canadian Screen Award for best first feature film.

The award goes to the year's best feature film by a first-time director.

When nominations for this year's Canadian Screen Awards were announced earlier this month, Ava also earned eight nominations, including best film, best leading actress and best supporting actress.

Tehran-born, Montreal-based Foroughi is nominated for best direction and best original screenplay.

Ava, a Canadian co-production with Iran and Qatar, stars Mahour Jabbari as the titular character: a 16-year-old upper-class girl who chafes against family and societal restrictions in Tehran.

The Canadian Screen Awards gala will be broadcast live on CBC-TV on March 11.