Ten films by nine directors, veterans and promising newcomers, most of them recent productions, give insight into contemporary Iran at this festival organized in collaboration with the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Hungarian National Film Archive. All films will be screened in the original version with English subtitles and simultaneous Hungarian translation through ear-phones. November 20, 6:30 p.m.So Close So FarThis admirable film changes your ideas about God by showing the ...

The Iranian Film Week in Budapest opening film, "Kheili Dour, Kheili Nazdik", (Very far, very near), 2OO5, directed by Sayyed Reza Mir-Karimi, was one of the best of the lot and also the longest with a running time of 12O minutes. A middle-aged neurosurgeon (played by the charismatic actor Masoud Rayegany) comes back to Teheran on the eve of the Persian New Year after a long stay in the west to spend the holidays with his teenage son, an avid student of astronomy. You can see that he feels a l...

In conjunction with the Iranian embassy the Örökmogó Filmmuseum, which is the outlet for the Hungarian Film Archive and presents a selection of international films all year round, is presenting a ten film survey here of recent Iranian film productions in what amounts to a mini Iranian film festival. The survey includes two slightly older films from the years 1992 and 1999, but the remainder are all films made after the turn of the millenium, primarily those released since 2004. Ever since t...

The International Film Festival Rotterdam announces the Competitions’ Juries of the 37th edition, that will open on January 23. The full line up of both the VPRO Tiger Awards Competition and the Tiger Awards Competition for Short Films 2008 will be announced Tuesday January 8. The Jury of the VPRO Tiger Awards Competition for first or second feature films consists of: • Ms. Renata Litvinova, Russia, filmmaker, film producer and actress• Ms. Tiziana Finzi, Switzerland, Deputy Director...

 Monday, July 30------- With Iran very much in the news in the United States these days (mostly negative), it is a kind of act of artistic defiance for courageous film distributors to bring to the American public another view of the "axis of evil". Those in the know have long realized that Iranian cinema is among the most poetic, visually magnificent and humanistic.....a far cry from the way most Americans are taught to think of the country and its citizens. A new addition to the rost...

     Iranian Director Samira Makhmalbaf and her father, filmaker Mohsen Makhmalbaf held a press conference today, Friday, May 18, 2007 at the All Suites Hotel, Cannes. The filming of her latest feature, Two-Legged Horse, came to a halt when a bomb exploded on-set in Afghanistan on March 28, 2007. The explosion killed one horse and injured six members of the cast and crew.  ...

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 ...

Saturday, September 16---For several decades, the American government has successfully demonized the country of Iran, referring to it as an "evil empire" as a member of the "axis of evil". The rhetoric has ratcheted up in recent months, as Iran attempts to take hold of its own destiny by producing nuclear power, and possibly nuclear weapons. But what do we really know about this ancient culture that is one of the most influential nations in the Middle East? What more can we know without trave...

From July 15 to July 22, 2006, for the 24th time, Munich will be the setting of Germany's largest summer film festival.Among the highlights of our International Program are spectacular debut films such as THANK YOU FOR SMOKING by Jason Reitman from the USA, VALERIE by Birgit Möller from Germany and MÜETTER by French director (but Munich resident) Dominique Lienhard. As always, there are exciting discoveries to be made - like American Wunderkind Andrew Bujalski, whose first two films (FUNNY HA...

The Festival du Nouveau Cinéma has wrapped and announced its awards for the 34th FNCLOUVE D’OR - Feature Film Award SOMETHING LIKE HAPPINESS, Bohdan Slàma (République Tchèque/Allemagne, 2005) éQuinoxe/Radio-Canada Screenplay Award IRON ISLAND, Mohammad Rasoulof (Iran, 2005)Radio-Canada People’s Choice Award QUI A TIRÉ SUR MON FRÈRE ?, German Gutierrez (Québec/Canada, 2005)NFB Innovation Award FLESH, Édouard Salier (France, 2005)Feature Film MentionYAJI AND KITA – THE MIDNIGHT PILG...

2O Fingers won Best Film Venezia Cinema Digitale: interview with the author: Mania Akbari 20 Fingers - one of the most controversial films to come out of Iran, and the debut feature from Iranian actress and filmmaker Mania Akbari - has beaten off tough competition to be awarded the top prize in the inaugural Digitale competition at the Venice Film Festival.An international jury composed of English director Mike Figgis (president), Japanese producer Shozo Ichiyama, and French director Claire Simo...

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...

Which competition film or participant will take home a Golden or Silver Berlin Bear at the end of the Berlinale 2004 is decided by the International Jury. In 2004 this committee will again consist of seven international film experts from a variety of disciplines. This year’s President of the Jury is Frances McDormand, an Academy Award winner and star of independent film.The award ceremony of the 54th Berlin International Film Festival will be held at the Berlinale Palast on Saturday, February ...