by Alex Deleon for <filmfestivals.com>  Bahman Ghobadi       RHINO SEASON is Ghobadi's first film since he fled Iran        The stars of Rhino Season (from left) Behrouz Vossoughi, Monica Bellucci, Bahman Ghobadi, Belcim Bilgin and Arash Labaf IRANIAN CINEMA BRAIN DRAIN CONTINUES With Bahman ...

  On Wednesday September 26th at 19:00, the Kursaal Auditorium will host the European premiere of Bahman Gobhadi´s film, Fasle Karagdan / Rhino Season. The director will attend the screening with the cast headliners Monica Bellucci, Behrouz Vossoughi and Belçim Bilgin. Bahman Gobhadi has won the Golden Shell on two occasions at the San Sebastian Festival, in 2004 with Lakposhtha parvaz mikonand / Turtles Can Fly and in 2006 with Niwemang / Half Moon. In 2007 Gobhadi was...

October 1, 2006 Saturday Afternoon in the press room where the Concha prizes have been announced, and, the Main Winners were -- -- -- (pause for bated breath) -- -- - Kurd-Iranian director Bahman Ghobadi scored another big victory here with two of the most important awards, the Golden Concha, or Grand Prix for Best Film, “NIEMANG/HALF MOON, and the International Film Critics FIPRESCI prize as well. This was Ghobadi’ second Golden Concha best film prize here in Donostia, where his “Turtl...

Saturday Afternoon in the press room where the Concha prizes have been announced, and, the Main Winners were -- -- -- (pause for bated breath) -- -- -Kurd-Iranian director Bahman Ghobadi scored another big victory here with two of the most important awards, the Golden Concha, or Grand Prix for Best Film, “NIEMANG/HALF MOON, and the International Film Critics FIPRESCI prize as well. This was Ghobadi’ second Golden Concha best film prize here in Donostia, where his “Turtles Can Fly” reall...

In the handsome press book for the new Agnieszka Holland musical biopic "Copying Beethoven" writer/producer Christopher Wilkinson, regarding the appearance of actor Ed Harris in the title role, is quoted as having said on a visit to the set, "I see Beethoven standing there -- but what have they done with Ed Harris?" If Ed Harris does to some extent disappear into the skin of the composer in this not-to-be-denied bravura acting job, and if the trompe l'oeil maquillage really does makes it hard ...

34th International Film Festival RotterdamJanuary 26 - February 6, 2005Ghobadi's TURTLES CAN FLY grabs Tiscali Audience AwardThe International Film Festival Rotterdam 2005 concludes February 6, 2005 with a slightly increased attendance of 358.000 visits to its films, exhibitions, debates, talk shows and other festival events. The IFFR welcomed more (inter)national festival guests, reaching a number of 2,586. During the festival the Russian, Southeast Asian and Iraqi films and their filmmakers we...

Somewhere between a case of the butterflies and fourteen sucks In its second year, the Berlinale’s youth film competition 14plus is again heading for a great start with a fantastic programme. “The success of the new competition was awesome“, section head Thomas Hailer exclaimed, “and we’re eager to put all our energies into making this one even better.” As well as the Children’s Jury and the Youth Jury, the 28th Kinderfilmfest’s International Jury has also been appointed: Sayoko ...

Earlier we said: "If this one (Turtles Can Fly) doesn't take the big prize tomorrow, I for one, will be very much surprised". CUT TO: Saturday Night. September, 25 -- well: It did!Prizes. In the final sweepstakes "Turtles Can Fly", the odds-on favorite from Iran, did not disappoint and claimed the Concha De Oro (Golden Seashell) top prize for best film. Director Bahman Ghobadi dedicated his prize to the Kurdish people with a satisfied smile and an upheld fist. Other main prize winners ("Si...

TURTLES CAN FLY won the GOLDEN SHELL FOR BEST FILM at San Sebastian.Bahman Ghobadi, (the director's) Statement.Three days after the collapse of Saddam, I went to Baghdad to show my film Songs of my motherland as it was being released. Just as the superpowers were sending heavy weaponry to Iraq, my purpose was, on a symbolic level, to contribute artistically to what was going on.With the small DV camera I was carrying, I shot for a few weeks what I had witnessed in Baghdad, as well as in the othe...

The International Jury of the 52nd DONOSTIA-SAN SEBASTIAN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL consisting of the members MARIO VARGAS LLOSA (President) YAMINA BENGUIGUI TOM DiCILLO MARTA ESTEBAN LAURA MORANTE EDUARDO SERRA DITO TSINTSADZE has decided to grant the following awards:JURY AWARD FOR BEST SCREENPLAY toGuy Hibbert y Paul Greengrass OMAGH (UK-Ireland) JURY AWARD FOR BEST PHOTOGRAPHY toMarcel Zyskind. NINE SONGS (UK-USA) SILVER SHELL FOR BEST ACTOR toUlrich Thomsen BRODRE (BROTHERS) (Denmark) SIL...