Iranian cineastes scoop up awards at Erbil festival

TEHRAN,Dec.2(MNA) -- Four Iranian cineastes have won awards in the short films section of the 3rd No to Violence Film Festival, which was held in Erbil, Iraq, from November 25 to 28. Director/writer Jalal Nasiri-Hanis received the best screenplay award for “Cold Travel” and Amirhossein Qasemi won the best sound recorder award for “Bandage” directed by Omid Abdollahi. Tofiq Amani was presented with the best film editor award for “An Alley Behind Our House” directed by Shilan Sadi, and Saeid Zehni won the best music award for “The Breakfast” by Maryam Dusti. In addition, the organizers honored Iranian actor Allah-Morad Rashtiani with a life-achievements award for his roles in Bahman Qobadi’s “Half Moon” and “Marooned in Iraq”. Iranian sound effects supervisor Mohammadreza Delpak was a member of the festival jury, which was led by his compatriot filmmaker Shahram Alidi. Fifty-one films were screened in various sections of this year’s festival. “Silent” by L. Rezan Yesilbas from Turkey was named best film in the short film category. The best documentary award went to “In Darkness” by Kamaran Jamal from Iraqi Kurdistan and Husain Hassan from Iraqi Kurdistan won the best director award for “Power”. The festival aims to draw attention to the challenges faced by women in today’s society through the medium of cinema and also to develop young filmmakers’ skills and creativity, and in so doing raise the quality of film-making in Kurdistan.