by Alex Deleon
On the heels of the 2012 Berlinale, forming a kind of coda to the busy week preceding, four unusual pictures from Iran were presented in this extra special Persian package, one each evening starting Sunday, at the Babylon Theater in Rosa Luxemburg Square.
The Babylon located just west of Alexander Platz in what used to be Communist East Berlin, is one of the oldest movie theaters in Berlin and is now a protected architectural monument. It is also one of the regular Be...
Jafar Panahi and Mohammad Rasoulof, currently subject to legal
proceedings in Iran which earned them a sentence of six years in prison and a
20-year employment ban, to which they have appealed, will be in Cannes with two
films made in semi-clandestine conditions and which reached the festival in
recent days.
« The reality of being alive and the dream of keeping cinema alive
motivated us to go through the existing limitations in Iranian cinema » Jafar
Panahi sai...
14th
Flying Broom International Women’s Film Festival hosts many filmmakers
from all over the world in May in Ankara. The opposing voice of Iranian
cinema, Tahmineh Milani; young talent of Cuban cinema, Prakriti Maduro;
the director filming menopause for the first time, Paula Palacios; an
original voice from Belgium, Vanja D’alcanatara; and Efua Dorkenoo who
portrays grassroots movement against female genital mutilation in Africa
are just a few of the guests of the festival.
...
In continuation of my tribute to Persian cinema (previous article) I am still long overdue to review this stellar film of 2009 that I watched months ago and again recently with the intention to interview actor Navid Akhavan; but alas, our schedules rarely coincide to make the time to meet up so in the interim I will take this time to say a few words about ‘For A Moment, Freedom'.
Directed by Arash T. Riahi, ‘For A Moment Freedom' features an ensem...
A tribute to Iranian cinema... From ‘Women Without Men' (2009) to ‘Nader And Simin, A Separation' (2011)
So, seeing how Iranian cinema continues to make leaps and bounds for World Cinema in general let me recall one of my favorite Iranian films of the past year...
‘Women Without Men' by director Shirin Neshat and Shoja Azari premiered at the 66th Venice Film Festival on 8 Sep 2009 at the Sala Grande but sadly, I had not yet had the chance to see i...
MOHAMMED RASULOFThe Thessaloniki International Film Festival denounces the sentences conferred upon Iranian filmmakers Jafar Panahi and Mohammed Rasulof. The recent accusations against them, as well as the excessive penalty imposed on them for spreading “propaganda against the system”, for participation in the protests that ensued after Ahmadinejad’s re-election and for their socially focused work, is a direct and unabashed violation of civil liberties. Thessaloniki Film Festival...
Iran has sentenced two prominent filmmakers to six years in jail each on vague charges of working against the ruling system, their lawyers said Monday. One of the two, the renowned filmmaker Jafar Panahi, has won awards at the Chicago, Cannes and Berlin film festivals. His films have been screened at various film festivals in India.
He was invited as chief guest at the recently concluded 41st international film fest in Goa (IFFI) but was not allowed to leave the country.
Iran has ...
The Bengali film maker Shri Gautam Ghosh’s film “Moner Manush” bagged the coveted Golden Peacock Award for the Best Film at the 41st International Film Festival of India 2010, while the Silver Peacock Award for the Best Director has gone to Susanne Bier of Denmark for her film “In a Better World”. ‘Just Another Love Story’ from India and “Boy” from New Zealand won the Special Jury Award. Shri Ghosh, the Director of the film received the Golden Peacock, Rs. 20 lakhs in presence ...
Twenty film professionals from more twelve different countries will make up the 6 competition juries for films screening at the main programme of the 14th Black Nights Film Festival which runs from 24th November – 5th December 2010.
Concentrating on films from Europe and Asia, the International Competition EurAsia Jury will award a Grand Prix and jury prizes for Best Director, Actor and Actress from a diverse and excellent selection of competition films. The jury is made up of...
The 1st London Iranian Film Festival has created many opportunities for emerging and established filmmakers to exhibit their work representing Iranian culture. In addition, it will introduce Iranian cinema to new audiences, fulfilling both an entertainment and educational function.The Festival aims to produce the best Iranian film programme in UK, attracting as many people as possible to view Iranian cinema. Regardless of who you are, where you come from and what you do, this is a cultural event...
20 film professionals from more than 12 different countries will make up the 6 competition juries for films screening at the main programme of the 14th Black Nights Film Festival which runs from 24th November – 5th December 2010. Concentrating on films from Europe and Asia, the International Competition EurAsia Jury will award a Grand Prix and jury prizes for Best Director, Actor and Actress from a diverse and excellent selection of competition films. The jury is made up of David Willis (USA),...
Shirin Ebadi
DIALOGUE WITH SHIRIN EBADI
2003 Noble Prize Winner, Shirin
Ebadi, Iranian lawyer and human rights advocate talked with famous screenwriter Jean-Claude Carrière at the DAY IN TEHRAN event, organized, June 13th, in Paris, France on the grounds of the Cinémathèque Française.
Shirin
Ebadi is one of the very first female judges in Iran. Her constant and unfailing efforts in fostering Human Rights for the weak and needy, in particular, women's rights, ch...
Dimitris Eipides is the new director of the Thessaloniki International Film Festival (TIFF), appointed by Greek minister of culture Pavlos Geroulanos, following the resignation of previous Festival Director, Despina Mouzaki.
Eipides' first step as TIFF director is to change this year's event dates to a December 3-11 slot as additional time for the Festival preparations will be necessary, a move already approved by FIAPF. Certain to remain for this year are core sections of the Fes...
Second Jaipur International Film Festival (JIFF-2010) held at India’s Pink City Jaipur of Rajasthan screened 87 films, representing 21 countries (five continents) at OTS’ Bhagwat Singh Mehta Auditorium from January 29-31 amid jam packed and spell bound viewers. 12 films were awarded in different categories. "Le Grand Sault", a Canadian entry, winning the award for the Best short film. The 15 minute film has been made by Herve Demers of Canada. Amfuem made by Rainer Strecker of Germany won th...
14th International Film Festival of Kerala 2009 (Trivandrum, India 11th -18th December, 2009)
Indonesian film "Fishing Platform" directed by Ravi Bharwani and Iranian film "About Elly" directed by Asghar Farhadi jointly won the prestigious golden crow pheasant award for best feature film at 14th edition of International Film Festival of Kerala 2009 [11-18 December,2009] which was held in south Indian city of Trivandrum. "True Noon", a Tajik film di...
Yesterday, The
Times BFI 53rd London Film Festival rounded off another highly
successful year with the world premiere of Sam Taylor-Wood’s NOWHERE
BOY. This year’s Festival
hosted 193 feature films and 113 short films from 46 countries including 15
world premieres. There were 515 screenings and 553 filmmakers, with 277 of the
filmmakers from outside the UK. With 874 industry delegates accredited,
the Festival exceeded last year’s figures and reports the high...
Tonight, The Times BFI 53rd London Film Festival rounded off another highly successful year with the world premiere of Sam Taylor-Wood’s NOWHERE BOY. This year’s Festival hosted 193 feature films and 113 short films from 46 countries including 15 world premieres. There were 515 screenings and 553 filmmakers, with 277 of the filmmakers from outside the UK. With 874 industry delegates accredited, the Festival exceeded last year’s figures and reports the highest ever audience attendance in e...
This year the Iranian Film Festival will move to a new location: ‘De Fabriek' in Zaandam. Here, a wide audience can once again become acquainted with everything the Iranian cinema has to offer. But not only the festival's location changes this year: the themes of its movies will also expand and deepen. For instance, there will be special attention for Iranian hiphop, 30 years of Islamic Revolution, ánd we will take an interesting look beyond Iran's borders in Central Asia. The Iranian Film ...
This year the Iranian Film Festival will move to a new location: ‘De Fabriek’ in Zaandam. Here, a wide audience can once again become acquainted with everything the Iranian cinema has to offer. But not only the festival’s location changes this year: the themes of its movies will also expand and deepen. For instance, there will be special attention for Iranian hiphop, 30 years of Islamic Revolution, ánd we will take an interesting look beyond Iran’s borders in Central Asia. The Iranian F...
The programme for The Times BFI 53rd London Film Festival, announced today by Artistic Director Sandra Hebron, includes a diverse selection of world and international premieres with a total of 191 features and 113 shorts screening alongside an exciting line-up of special events and expected guests.Opening Night film, Wes Anderson’s FANTASTIC MR. FOX, is one of the Festival’s 15 world premieres and will be presented by the director and cast members including Meryl Streep, George Clooney, Bill...
The programme for The Times BFI 53rd London Film Festival, announced today by Artistic Director Sandra Hebron, includes a diverse selection of world and international premieres with a total of 191 features and 113 shorts screening alongside an exciting line-up of special events and expected guests.Opening Night film, Wes Anderson’s FANTASTIC MR. FOX, is one of the Festival’s 15 world premieres and will be presented by the director and cast members including Meryl Streep, George Clooney, Bill...
This years jury member for the Best First Feature Film Award at the Berlin film festival, Iranian Rafi Pitts, made his first steps as a director in Mannheim-Heidelberg: He presented his debut Cinquieme Saison in 1997 in International Competition and came back to the festival of newcomers in 2000 with "Sanam". On both occasions, he was awarded the Special Prize of the International Jury. Pitts today is recognised to be one of the most renowned representatives of contemporary Iranian cinema.Having...
