Iranian film bags two int'l awards

Tehran, Nov 16, IRNA – Iranian director Nima Javidi’s debut feature-length film ‘Melbourne’ has bagged two awards at the Stockholm International Film Festival. The writer-director Nima Javidi was honored for his script ‘Melbourne’ while the film’s cinematographer Hooman Behmanesh received the event’s 'honorable mention'. The jury’s statement for Nima Javidi says “When a character makes choices that are hard to understand, the challenge is to put ourselves in that character’s place. This film compels us to reflect, reminding us to dwell on the ramifications of our own actions. It is an affirmation of how complicated it is to be a responsible human being.” “Special mention to a cinematographer who worked tirelessly and precisely to make one apartment a labyrinth of the psyche. This is the cinematographer of Melbourne”, the statement of the jury said for Behmanesh. The flick is the story of Amir and Sara, a young couple on their way to Melbourne to continue their studies. However, just a few hours before the departure of their flight, they get unintentionally involved in a tragic event. The cast features Negar Javaherian and Peyman Maadi. The film has received critical acclaim at the 71st Venice International Film Festival in Italy. The movie experienced its international premiere at the event. The work also attended the 10th edition of Zurich international Film Festival and the 27th Tokyo International Film Festival. It also participated at the competition section of the 15th International Film Festival Bratislava while it is currently being screened at the Cairo International Film Festival. The 8th Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA) has nominated Javidi for the Best Screenplay, to be held in Australia’s Brisbane on 11 December. Stockholm International Film Festival started in 1990 and is today one of the leading competitive film festivals in Europe. The festival takes place every year in November with over 200 films from more than 60 countries./end