Cannes Market Dailies

Iranian Independents will present some of the best Iranian independent productions in the Market at our booth, Riviera, C-6

1)      Fish & Cat (2013): The second feature film by Shahram Mokri which was premiered at Vanice and received Jury Special Award for Creativity of Horizons section and collected more awards at Lisbon, Dubai, !f Istanbul and Fribourg. Variety: "A highly original, compelling feature, filmed in one long, bravura shot establishing Shahram Mokri as a distinctive talent"

2)      I'm not Angry!(2014): The second feature film by Reza Dormishian which was premiered at Berlinale's Panorama section with great success. The phenomenon of Tehran's Fajr Film Festival in February which turned to be one of the most controversial films in past decade. The Hollywood Reporter: "A heart-breaking love story set in Tehran, in the midst of political protests and social distress...I'm Not Angry!, a stunning second film from Iranian writer-director Reza Dormishian (Hatred), looks back in anger at the time of Iranian presidential election in 2009, while it opens a wide window on today's Iran. And it does so through top-drawer drama, convincing characters and settings and edgy camerawork, all leading up to a final scene almost too shocking to watch. It's a wonder that a film this clear and outspoken could be made at all..."

3)      Paternal House (2012-2014): Completed and then premiered in Venice 2012, Kianoosh Ayyari's latest feature film was banned for two years here and just screened at Tehran's Fajr Film Festival in last February and became all film fans and critics' top movie of the festival. Eighty years ago, for some moral issues, a man, together with his own son, kills his own daughter and buries her at the basement of their house. This hidden grave is simply tied to the next generations of the whole family and turns to be a restraining factor.

4)      The Sale (2014): The second feature film by Hossein Shahabi (The Bright Day) which is very touching and convincing depiction of women in contemporary Iran. Forough is a middle aged woman whose husband has temporarily married with another woman. Even though that was kept secret from her, but his action is considered legal in Iran. Now the husband is in prison, due to not being able to pay second wife's "Mehrieh" (the bride's marriage portion). The second wife intends to receive her Mehrieh by asking the court's permission to sell his house. Forough, the first wife, in order to not lose her home, intends to sell all she has to pay for her husband's debt and release him from the jail.

5)      Melbourne (2014): The debut feature film by the talented young Nima Javidi which enjoys a never told story on human commitments and opportunities. Amir and Sara, a young couple, are going to Melbourne to continue their higher education, however, just a few hours before their flight, they are unintentionally involved in tragic event!

6)      With Others: The first feature film by Nasser Zamiri who's been one of the most successful Iranian short filmmakers in international scene in last 15 years. The films deals with a very bold issue, surrogate mother in a traditional society. Arezoo and Amir-Hossein's life turns into a critical situation as they cannot have a child. There is just one solution, surrogate mother, for which Tahereh, Arezoo's close friend and colleague, can open a new horizon in the young couple's life. However, when Yaghoub, Tahereh's ex-husband is temporarily released from prison, all these people's lives become very complicated.

7)      Unripe Pomegranate (2014): The debut feature film by Majid-Reza Mostafavi who deals with a young couple, Ensi and Zaba living in suburb of Tehran and then involved in no-future works, Ensi, taking are of an old woman suffering from Alzheimer and Zabih as a construction welder in skyscrapers. The young couple are happy in spite of such suspending living and expecting a baby, however, the destiny is not as they could predict!

8)      The Corner (2014): The very first film by talented actor, Abad Abast, which is an innovative and convincing experience dealing with the young generation in contemporary urban society. Amir sits against his camera and starts to reveal what's happened to him and his three friends in one night and how he caused the death of his father and his niece.

9)      The 17s (2014): How teenagers are different from their not only parents but from one generation before! A documentary by Attieh Attarzadeh and Aslan Shahebrahimi. "The 17s" is the story of four urban teenagers in contemporary Iran in their own words. In order to make a film about the lifestyle of these teens and see their point of views, which is quite different from the life of the previous generation, the filmmakers decided to place the camera in their hand and ask them to film their own life, under the supervision of the directors during a year.