Best of Iran's cinematic works

WHILE we Malaysians love our big Hollywood blockbusters, as well as films from India and China, there is a growing demand for films from other regions with strong storylines.
So it's a boon when the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran together with Golden Screen Cinemas (GSC), and supported by Farabi Film Foundation, Hoze Honari Organisation and the National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (Finas), present the first-ever Iranian Film Festival 2018.
The festival is taking place in the Klang Valley starting this Wednesday till March 11 at GSC Pavilion and GSC Mid Valley; George Town from March 12 to March 14 at GSC Gurney Plaza; and Johor Baru from March 15 to March 17 at GSC Paradigm Johor Baru.
The organisers are giving out free tickets to catch six specially-curated films which are all Fajr Film Festival (Iran's highest movie honour) award winners.
Tickets to these films can be redeemed now on a first-come first-served basis at the ticketing counters of the participating cinemas.
The six movies, which will be screened in Persian with English subtitles, are director Kamal Tabrizi's Sweet Taste of Imagination (2014), Abolhassan Davoudi's Crazy Castle (2014), Puran Derakhshandeh's Under the Smoky Roof (2017), Mohammad Ali Bashe Ahangar's The Queen (2012), Tahmineh Milani's Ceasefire 2 (2014), and Keyiumar Pourahmad's Where are My Shoes (2016).
Sweet Taste of Imagination recounts the story of a university professor who is so fascinated with protecting the environment that he has dedicated his entire life to it. But then he meets a young female student who equally fascinates him.
Crazy Castle is about a group of young online community members who get involved in a prank that turns into a complicated situation.
Under the Smoky Roof, which won Tehran Fajr Film Festival 2017 Crystal Simorgh Award for best actress for Merila Zarei, is about a married woman desperately trying to connect with her husband and son.
The Queen is about a military scout who tries to reveal geographical coordinates of Iraqi soldiers during the 1980s Iran-Iraq War.
Ceasefire 2 revolves around a young couple who try to fix their marriage troubles with the help of a psychiatrist.
Meanwhile, Where are My Shoes, focuses on a man dealing with Alzheimer's disease.
During the press conference to announce the festival's offerings, Iranian Embassy's Cultural Centre cultural counsellor A.M. Sabeghi said in line with the festival's goal to develop cultural relationships and mutual understanding, he hopes that "the Iranian cinematic art can be [used] as a bridge in creating more cultural understanding and strengthening friendship" between Iran and Malaysia.
Sabeghi, who is also secretary of the festival, added that this year marks the 120th anniversary of Iranian cinema.
Though it has had its share of ups and downs, Iranian cinema has carved a special niche for itself in most major festivals such that any festival without Iranian film representation would be incomplete, he said.
Festival director Mohammad Reza Shams said that the six movies selected for this year's event are from various genres in order to showcase Iran's creativity and diversity in filmmaking.
Meanwhile, Under the Smoky Roof's director Derakhshandeh and his leading actress Merila Zarei have been invited to grace the festival opening ceremony in Kuala Lumpur today, while Crazy Castle's director Davoudi and veteran actress Azita Hajian (Under the Smoky Roof) will be present for the opening ceremony in George Town on March 12, and in Johor Baru on March 15.
For showtimes, visit the GSC website.