For Freedom :: Baraye Azadi :: Dance Company DC058 'The Voice of Dust and Ash' :: Singing Truth to Power The untold story of monumental artist and humanitarian Maestro Mohammad Reza Shajarian, hailed by NPR as "one of the 50 greatest voices of all time" and by the Wall Street Journal as "the most important Iranian.." UPDATE(4) :: Defiance in Iran :: "Nationwide Revolution" Despite Crackdown, Anti-Government Protests May Grow into "Nationwide Revolution". The situation in Iran is "critical" as authorities tighten their crackdown on the continuing anti-government protests after the death of Mahsa.. Free Toomaj Salehi :: Iranian protest rapper Toomaj's life is in Danger! The rapper Toomaj Salehi is an activist for human rights who protests with his music against the brutality of the Islamic Republic. He was arrested by the security forces on 30.10.2022. Please join us to sign the petition.. Crackdown on celebrities :: Iran arrests actors for removing headscarves Iran has arrested two prominent actors who expressed solidarity with the country’s protest movement and removed their headscarves in public, according to state media.. 'See You Friday Robinson' :: New Wavers who upset the language of cinema :: Berlinale 2022 Encounters Ebrahim Golestan and Jean-Luc Godard, New Wavers Iranian and French, embark on an email round-robin conversation in this amusing documentary from Godard collaborator Mitra.. A Viennale retrospective :: Earthly Songs :: Ebrahim Golestan on his 100th Birthday This retrospective takes place in Vienna, as part of the Viennale. The screenings, programmed into four sessions, are scheduled for October 21-23, 2022. All four events shall be introduced.. Iranian Filmmaker Mani Haghighi Has Passport Confiscated Mani Haghighi had his passport confiscated at the airport as he was about to board a flight to attend the BFI London Film Festival. Haghighi was expected to present there the U.K. premiere of his latest film, “Subtraction.” .. 'This Time It's Different' :: Iran Actress Golshifteh Farahani Lauds Protests Exiled Iranian actress Golshifteh Farahani said Tuesday that she was filled with admiration for the protesters in Iran: "beautiful, feminine, hair in the wind, asking simply for freedom." Farahani has lived in exile in France for more than.. 'Holy Spider' cast protests in solidarity with Iranian women on London Film Festival red carpet The cast of 'persian noir' film 'Holy Spider' protested in support of women's rights in Iran at the London Film Festival on Saturday (October 8) ahead of its UK premiere.. UPDATE(3) :: "They Want a Democracy": Iranian Nobel Peace Prize Winner Shirin Ebadi on Protests "Today's movement is not calling for reform. Today's movement is calling for a new vision of politics … with women at the helm of it," says Narges Bajoghli, professor of anthropology.. “To Every Filmmaker in the World” “Every filmmaker in the world” is called to support anti-government protests in Iran by famous Iranian cinema creators and actors speaking up after the violent repression of protests triggered by the death of 22-year-old woman Masha Amini while in police custody.. 'Holy Spider' :: Selected as Denmark's Oscar candidate OSCAR 2023. Ali Abbasi and Profile Pictures' 'Holy Spider' is selected as Denmark's submission in the International Feature Film category. 'Holy Spider' shows a director with a strong artistic ambition who.. Winners of the 2022 ‘Sepanta Awards’ :: 15th Annual Iranian Film Festival This year, the festival presented 50 films from Iran, USA, Italy, France, Luxembourg, Greece, UK, Canada, Australia, and Denmark…, ranging from fiction, documentary, short, animation…. to the music video.. Tickets On Sale Now! Iranian Film Festival - San Francisco September 17-18, 2022 Iranian Film Festival - San Francisco, the first independent Iranian film festival outside of Iran, launched in 2008, this year presents 50 films from 10 countries and is available Virtually.. Opinion :: Will Venice Protests Help or Hurt filmmakers in Iran? As the Venice Film Festival celebrates Iranian cinema — with four Iranian films screening at the 79th Biennale — back home in Tehran, Iranian filmmakers and artists are facing the harshest crackdown in decades.. VENICE 2022 crowns Laura Poitras, Alice Diop, Luca Guadagnino and Jafar Panahi its victors VENICE 2022: The Golden Lion goes to US movie All the Beauty and the Bloodshed, the Grand Jury Prize to Saint-Omer, Best Direction to Bones and All and the Special Prize to No Bears.. Biennale Cinema 2022 :: Awards Ceremony Official Awards of the 79th Venice Film Festival. Announced by the five international Juries, chaired by Julianne Moore, during the Awards Ceremony that was held on Saturday 10th September at 7:00 pm.. The Kiev Trial :: VENICE 2022 Ukrainian documentary Filmmaker Sergei Loznitsa presents a haunting glimpse of a post-war Nazi trial. A year after his moving documentary Babi Yar. Context, Loznitsa revisits some of the footage he unearthed and expands it into the equally daunting The Kiev Trial.. 'Nezouh' (نزوح) :: VENICE 2022 "The bombs can’t touch the stars" "Nezouh in Arabic is the displacement of souls, water and people; it is the displacement of light and darkness. Nezouh tries to talk about this inevitable invasion of light and hope in the midst of this chaos”.. Venice 2022 :: Festival Reads Statement From Imprisoned Iranian Director Jafar Panahi, imprisoned Iranian filmmaker, whose new film 'No Bears' is screening in competition in Venice, has sent a message of defiance to the Tehran regime... Filmmakers under Attack :: Taking Stock, Taking Action. Two initiatives at the 79th Venice Film Festival La Biennale di Venezia announces two initiatives to demonstrate solidarity with the directors, filmmakers and artists who have been arrested or imprisoned around the world this past year.. Venice 2022 :: 'Call of God' :: Mastering the Science of Love The last film of the late-director Kim Ki-duk has been officially invited to the 79th Venice Film Festival. At the time of his death, the director KIM Ki-duk was at work on what would be his final feature, a project titled 'Call of God'.. Coming: 15th Annual Iranian Film Festival! : San Francisco: Sep. 17-18 This year, the festival presents 50 films from Iran, USA, Italy, France, Luxembourg, Greece, UK, Canada, Australia, and Denmark…, ranging from fiction, documentary, short, animation…. to the music video. We are happy and proud to.. Venice 2022 :: 'Without her' :: Orizzonti Extra The story of someone actually losing her identity may seem surreal at first glance, but coming from a background where you’re blamed for who you are, it’s as realistic as it can get. If you stand for your beliefs, you soon find out that.. 'Bamse' :: A Lucky Man A tribute to the popular Danish musician, who has provided us with classics like “Vimmer Street”, “Why Does Louise Go Dancing” and “In A Boat That’s Itty-Bitty”. Behind the warm smile and the overalls is a powerful and moving story about a man’s lifelong pursuit of recognition and love.. Close-Up on Mohsen Makhmalbaf’s 'The Nights of Zayandeh-Rood' An Iranian film as remarkable as the history of its production—edited by the government, banned, stolen, and rediscovered. The regime had tried to erase 'The Nights..' from collective memory—instead, it elevated it to a near-cult status.. Venice 2022 :: 'Beyond The Wall' 'Beyond the Wall' will have its world premiere at the 79th Venice International Film Festival in September 2022. The Iranian Cinema Organization has announced that 'Beyond The Wall's participation in the Venice Film Festival is not coordinated with this organization.. Danish docs and series headed for 79th Venice International Film Festival Jørgen Leth and Andreas Koefoed's 'Music for Black Pigeons', Guy Davidi's 'Innocence', Lars von Trier's 'The Kingdom Exodus' and Nicolas Winding Refn's 'Copenhagen Cowboy' will take part in.. 79th Venice International Film Festival :: Lineup :: 31 Aug. - 10 Sep. New films by Luca Guadagnino, Laura Poitras, Todd Field, Olivia Wilde, Martin McDonagh, and Rebecca Zlatowski are heading to Venice, where Julianne Moore heads the competition jury.. Putin: A Russian Spy Story :: TV Series (2020) An exploration of how Vladimir Putin deployed his knowledge of spy-craft as a politician, and how modern Russia evolved through an acute sense of betrayal, pride and anger.. Panah Panahi on 'Hit the Road' ‘I don’t feel like a film-maker in my own country.. Even my actors haven’t seen the film yet’. Panah Panahi's joyous debut has been feted internationally but can’t be shown in his homeland — and now his auteur father Jafar Panahi has been sentenced to prison.. ‘SABA’ :: Screened at Aesthetica and Grand OFF :: An Iranian short film A socially committed short film that manages to touch on two controversial issues in modern Iran: the difficulty of being woman and the burning issue of gender equality.. Exilic trilogy :: A poetic, mystical and musical trilogy The story of a well known musician, a famous painter and a legendary poet are included in Exilic Trilogy in three chapters. This arthouse independent docudrama film is shot in Toronto by Arsalan Baraheni, an exiled Iranian... ‘Be My Voice’ :: Swedish documentary from 2021 Journalist and activist Masih Alinejad is the voice of millions of Iranian women rebelling against the forced hijab on social media. She is an advocate for women's rights, and from her exile in the United States.. Land of Dreams :: Venice 2021 Review Shirin Neshat and Shoja Azari fearlessly illuminate the eerie similarities between the Islamic regime and contemporary America – the increased presence of the surveillance state, the shared exploitation of religion and power.. Filmmaker Jafar Panahi Arrested as Conservative Iran Cracks Down on Dissidents Panahi was reportedly arrested after protesting the detention of fellow Iranian filmmakers Mohammad Rasoulof and Mostafa Al-Ahmad.. Iranian drama ‘Summer With Hope’ wins top Karlovy Vary prize Sadaf Foroughi’s Canadian-Iranian drama Summer With Hope has won the Crystal Globe for best film at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (KVIFF), which held its closing awards ceremony on Friday July 9.. Iran Arrests Golden Bear Winning Director Mohammad Rasoulof Mohammad Rasoulof arrested in ‘Brutal’ Raid Over Social Media Posts. His producing partners say he and colleague Mostafa Al-Ahmad have been "transferred to an unknown location." Since moving back to Iran in 2017, Rasoulof has.. ‘Ghosts of Afghanistan’ :: It's only your own perspective that counts “It's only your perspective that counts. Everyone celebrates their goals as just and noble. That is the real crime of this war. That the West questions its role, as it happens in this film, is a rare view”.. Call For Film Submissions Open The 15th Annual Iranian Film Festival - San Francisco, a showcase for the independent feature and short films made by or about Iranians from around the world, is inviting filmmakers from all over the world to submit their films.. Atabai :: Movie Review A sharp and fascinating exploration of male vulnerability Filmmaker Niki Karimi creates vivid characters and connections, adding imaginative touches and a nicely understated sense of humour. An unforgettable portrait of a man whose.. DOCAVIV 2022 :: Tantura :: Review Alon Schwarz's documentary explores the massacre committed by Israeli forces in the titular Arab village in 1948, shedding light on a taboo topic shrouded in a culture of silence. In the late 1990s, graduate student Teddy Katz conducted an academic research on a.. ‘Nostalgia’ :: Mario Martone’s Neapolitan Thriller “Our past is a labyrinth.. But there are these little voices that still call you from time to time. You try to re-enter this labyrinth. But this attempt at understanding who you are and where it all started can be dangerous..” Cannes 2022 :: Palme d'Or-winning director Ruben Östlund on his satire of the super-rich FRANCE 24 speaks to a director who won his second Palme d'Or for “Triangle of Sadness,” a biting satire of the rich and (Insta-)famous, bringing the 2022 Cannes Film Festival to.. Cannes 2022 :: Iranian Zar Ebrahimi Wins Cannes Best Actress Prize Iranian actress Zar Amir-Ebrahimi receives the Best Actress award for her role in the film Holy Spider on May 28. "I have come a long way to be on this stage tonight," she told the audience at the final award ceremonies in Cannes.. Cannes 2022 :: ‘Leila’s Brothers’ Wins Fipresci Prize Just hours before Cannes Palme d’Or prize announcement, the Iranian movie “Leila’s Brothers” won the Fipresci prize for best film in Cannes main competition “for the director’s ability to craft an engaging story, very dense.." Cannes 2022 :: ‘Imagine’ :: Critics’ Week :: Leila Hatami This light drama screens as part of Critics’ Week at Cannes, featuring A Separation’s Leila Hatami as the woman who bonds with her taxi driver in night rides around Tehran in Ali Behrad’s atmospheric yet ephemeral meditation on love.. Cannes 2022 :: ‘Leila’s Brothers’ :: Film Review A great movie both in scope and in what it’s trying to say about Iran through the story of one family’s countless hardships. As a filmmaker, Roustaee aims so high and wide that even if he misses his mark at times, he manages to find.. Cannes 2022 :: Danish films in Cannes Film Festival Three Danish films are part of the Official Selection and Danish film professionals are on board international co-productions at the 2022 Cannes Festival. Read on for more about the films and where to meet the Danish Film.. ‘Holy Spider’ :: Ali Abbasi :: Interview Ali Abbasi knows no bounds A Danish pregnancy horror flick, a Swedish troll romance and a Farsi-language serial killer thriller. Ali Abbasi sees no reason to limit himself to one culture, one language or one genre. He is now back in Cannes with 'Holy Spider'.. HOT DOCS 2022 :: 'The Killing of a Journalist' This investigative documentary explores how the entanglement of organised crime with a corrupt government, legal system and law enforcement can practically define life in a nominally democratic European country.. ‘Family Diary | Cronaca familiare’ :: The Cinema Of Valerio Zurlini An overwhelming drama, magnificently photographed, sadly neglected. Watching it in the Walter Reade in New York, I had the feeling that the screen was expanding to include the entire world.. Tiburon 2022 :: Call For Entries Open For 21st Annual Tiburon International Film Festival Tiburon, CA: The 21st Annual Tiburon International Film Festival (TIFF) will be held in November 2022, a showcase for independent feature and short films from around the world.. ‘The Coming War on China’ :: The new War-Game scenario in the Pacific John Pilger’s 60th film for ITV. Pilger reveals what the news doesn’t – that the United States and the world’s second economic power, China (both nuclear armed) are on the road to war.. Cannes 2022 :: Two Persian language films in the main section This year, 18 films will participate in the main section (competition) of Cannes Film Festival, including two Persian-language films, 'Holy Spider' by Ali Abbasi after his Cannes-winning Swedish 'Border', and 'Leila's Brothers' by.. ‘Threads’ :: Revisiting one of the most terrifying films ever made An urgent warning against nuclear conflict, Threads is a chilling hypothetical that achieves visceral horror with its matter-of-fact presentation of an apocalypse. Many films purport to be difficult to sit through, but.. Departures :: Okuribito :: おくりびと :: Fascinating, witty and heartfelt All three actors are skilled in communicating difficult emotions just with their faces and in bringing to life the gentle humor that leavens this very affecting movie about death and letting go.. ‘CODA’ :: Child of Deaf Adults Uniquely beautiful to watch No theatrics, no gimmicks - just a wonderful coming-of-age gem that aims directly at the heart and hits the bullseye. It’s the type of feel-good movie that leaves you both uplifted and exhausted.. ON THE BEACH :: THE BECKONING OF NUCLEAR WAR This is the way the world ends.. Not with a bang but a whimper. These lines from T.S. Eliot's poem The Hollow Men appear at the beginning of Nevil Shute's novel On the Beach, which left me close to tears. The endorsements on.. Akira Kurosawa's “Dreams” A remarkable achievement Rarely in cinema has the raw personal and symbolic power of dreaming been so effectively captured as in Akira Kurosawa's 1990 feature ... Kurosawa's late film beautifully evokes the short and often baffling nature of dreaming.. The Story of UNCLE VANYA Released in 1970, this film both recalls the past and situates Chekhov as a visionary who was ahead of his time. It is a dazzling and compassionate take on one of the most beloved plays in the Russian repertoire.. ‘Meeting Gorbachev’ :: “We tried” The fascinating story of a pivotal political figure. Mikhail Gorbachev, former president of the Soviet Union, sits down with filmmaker Werner Herzog to discuss his many achievements. Topics include the talks to reduce nuclear weapons, the reunification of Germany and the dissolution of.. ‘Be My Voice’ :: Swedish documentary from 2021 The inspiring story of Irani-exiled Masih Alinejad, her fight against the Iranian regime's hijab laws and her viral movement My Stealthy Freedom. Masih Alinejad is an Iranian journalist and activist. She is an advocate for women's.. ‘Ballad of a White Cow’ :: Bad Samaritan :: Movie Review With subtlety and steadily accruing power, Ballad of a White Cow depicts how painfully a justice system can fail -- and how that failure can haunt the lives of those affected.. ‘Queenpins’ :: Movie Reviews A high-concept hook combined with a top-notch ensemble, ‘Queenpins’ tells a charming, funny story. Thanks to the chemistry of the leads, some clever dialogue and a willingness to embrace the silly, it all clicks. It’s good. Good enough, in fact, that you won't even mind.. ‘The Laureate’ :: Movie Review Well-acted, nicely crafted and a handsome period piece within modest means, William Nunez’s biopic details an adventurous period in the life of 'I, Claudius' writer Robert Graves. Viewers looking for a slightly racier variation.. 'The Power of the Dog' :: Movie Review While Jane Campion's 'The Piano' remains a haunting exploration of female desire, 'The Power of the Dog' is a long-delayed contemplation on masculinity from the female eye, both about repression and control.. 'Tommaso' :: Movie Review The traits that define Ferrara's best work are present and precise here. One of the director’s latest work built on quiet moments of spiritual and professional reflection, a Fellini-esque inward gaze at the artist and his art.. ‘The Last Days of ...’ :: Movie Review A character study of two people — a rich “artist” and a prostitute — who spend a weekend together in his posh hotel suite overlooking the Vegas Strip. Even those uninclined to work out all of the script's hidden meanings will find reasons to enjoy this trim indie drama.. Speak No Evil :: Ready for Sundance After working on his 2017 feature A Horrible Woman, Christian Tafdrup is ready to world-premiere his new effort, a psychological horror entitled Speak No Evil, in the Midnight Series strand of the Sundance Film Festival (20-30 January 2022).. ‘Don’t Look Up’ :: Movie Review Adam McKay’s cosmic end-times satire “Don’t Look Up” quickly became the most-viewed original movie on Netflix over the holiday weekend. He says the ending of the Netflix hit came together in real-time thanks to Meryl Streep's improv skills.. The Unforgivable :: A Miserable Life If you are looking for Christmas movies, The Unforgivable will not be on your list. However, if you are a Sandra Bullock fan, this grim drama is a must-see offering. Sandra Bullock turns in a splendid performance as Ruth Slater.. ‘The United States vs Billie Holiday’ :: Movie Review “She Won’t Stop Singing the Song.” In the 1940s the FBI targets Billie Holiday, claiming her song ‘Strange Fruit’, about a lynching, to be un-American and therefore she is also being un-American.. EUROPEAN FILM AWARDS 2021 Flee, Quo Vadis, Aida?, Great Freedom triumph at the 34th European Film Awards. Jasmila Zbanic's film wins three statuettes including European Film, while Flee and The Father receive two each. The Ceremony was presented by German actress, Annabelle Mandeng.. ‘Lingui, the Sacred Bonds’ :: Review Lingui can only exist in the face of great hardship, and Haroun's surprisingly cathartic film honors the tradition by celebrating the fact that it still does. The film was nominated for the Palme d'Or at Cannes this year.. Blue Bayou :: Movie review The center of this story is the family unit of Kathy, Jessie, and Antonio, anguished at the breakup of their happy home, overwhelmed and intimidated by the looming bureaucracy of the United States government. who doesn't care that Antonio has a baby on the way, that Antonio.. ‘The Gravedigger’s Wife’ :: Somalia’s first-ever Oscar submission 2022 Charming and wistful without ever feeling maudlin, The Gravedigger's Wife is a beautiful love letter to the power of love and family. It is a striking first from a filmmaker and cast.. ANTIGONE - HOW DARE WE! Slavoj Zizek’s modern adaptation of Antigone brings the ancient tragedy up to date, with politicians and decision-makers in all roles. Antigone is used to explain democracy, the women's movement and moral philosophy - by both opponents and supporters of totalitarian.. Timbuktu :: The Nightmarish Perversion of "Justice" Timbuktu movingly attests to the human will to resist the terrors and injustices of absolutism. It encapsulates the essential truth of violent extremism: to destroy grace and beauty.. ‘HYENAS’ :: Another newly restored Masterpiece! The Senegalese director Djibril Diop Mambéty's allegory about the destructive effect of global financial powers on society's morality has been newly restored... When a City Rises :: Sydney Film Festival One of the most complete accounts of the Hong Kong pro-democracy protests to date. It’s also, at times, an unbearably tense picture which unfolds with urgency of a thriller.. ‘In Between Dying’ :: Hilal Baydarov’s seventh film in the last three years The enigmatic and strangely arresting tale of a man who can't escape death. In Between Dying is a rather curious cinematic experience, but it’s one that is striking and unique in its.. VENICE 2021 :: Ennio: The Maestro Ennio is Giuseppe Tornatore’s well-rounded portrait of Ennio Morricone, the most popular and prolific film composer of the 20th century, the one most loved by the international public, a two-time Oscar winner and the author of.. Cinema Regained :: The new restoration of Chess of the Wind A long-lost, legendary classic of Iranian New Wave cinema, The Chess Game of the Wind, was probably the most internationally celebrated revelation/restoration of 2020.. It's Showtime :: The 14th Annual Iranian Film Festival - San Francisco Due to the current pandemic situation, the Iranian Film Festival will be VIRTUAL this year, presenting a record- breaking 60 films at its 14th annual event, September 18-19, 2021.. HAUGESUND 2021 :: Charlotte Sieling :: Director of Margrete – Queen of the North :: Interview The Danish director discusses her film about the monarch that ruled Scandinavia. Ten years in the making and going six centuries back,.. VENICE 2021 :: Awards Venice’s Golden Lion goes to Happening by Audrey Diwan. Other big European winners of the evening include Paolo Sorrentino, awarded the Jury’s Grand Prize for The Hand of God, and Penélope Cruz who.. Avicii: True Stories :: So wake me up when it's all over An Icarus style portrait of a sensitive young man who was thrust too readily into the hedonistic world of the international music scene.. Movie Review :: The Macaluso Sisters There's undeniable beauty and truth to The Macaluso Sisters that cannot be overlooked. Genuinely moving, captivating and, most importantly, grounded in pure, unadulterated humanism.. Samereh Rezaie :: Actress and director Afghan actress- director Samereh Rezaie talks about how important it is for the international community to continue supporting women and human rights in Afghanistan.. VENICE 2021 :: Orizzonti :: Promises :: Isabelle Huppert Promises opened the Orizzonti line-up of the 78th Venice Film Festival - follows the current French film trend of broaching topics associated with public governance where.. Margrethe II, Queen of Denmark, hired to design set on new Netflix film Queen of Denmark is to design the sets for a forthcoming Netflix film adapted from a novel by Karen Blixen, it has been announced.. ‘Stillwater’ :: A tale of hard-earned second chances Stillwater isn't perfect, but its thoughtful approach to intelligent themes -- and strong performances from its leads -- give this timely drama a steadily building power.. Persian Lessons :: Movie Review Director Vadim Perelman creates a skilfully unfussy period style, avoiding genre cliches to focus on characters who are finely brought to life by an excellent cast.. ‘Born a Champion’ :: A love letter to jiu-jitsu Real-life Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Sean Patrick Flanery (The Boondock Saints) stars as an aging fighter pulled into an underground Dubai tournament.. August 20-28 Karlovy Vary 2021 Michael Caine to receive Crystal Globe at 2021 Karlovy Vary film festival. He will join Johnny Depp and Ethan Hawke at this year’s film festival in Karlovy Vary.. VENICE 2021 Competition 'Parallel Mothers' to open the 78th Venice Film Festival The Spanish director, Pedro Almodóvar, who claims "It was in Venice, in 1983, that I was reborn as a director" will present his film.. Cannes 2021 :: ‘Titane’ Wins Palme d’Or Julia Ducournau becomes only the second female director to claim Cannes' top prize. The grand jury prize was awarded to A hero, of Iranian Asghar Farhadi, and for Hyutti No. 6.. ‘Gringo: The Dangerous Life of John McAfee’ Filmmaker Nanette Burstein tries to unravel the strange behavior of John McAfee, who left his life as a software mogul to become a recluse in the jungles of Belize.. Berlinale 2021 :: Souad :: Movie Review 'Souad' is remarkable not just for its razor- sharp, nonjudgmental insight, but also for the nuanced performances making each character rounded yet ultimately unknowable.. Berlinale 2021 Summer Special highlights Cinema is back in Berlin! The Berlinale Summer Special opened on June 9 with a red carpet gala. Here are a few snapshots of the event. During the Summer Special from June 9-20.. CANNES 2021 :: ‘Year of the Everlasting Storm’ A sweeping and melancholic first trailer has arrived for Neon’s Secret Cannes Project, “The Year of the Everlasting Storm.” With films by Jafar Panahi, Anthony Chen, Malik Vitthal, .. A New Book Reveals Why Frank Sinatra believed Marilyn Monroe was murdered "I tried to paint the portrait of a man very few people got to know as well as I did, I think he knew someday I'd share the stories he.. Welcome to Online Film Home! Call for the Release of Iranian Filmmakers.. Release Panahi, Rasoulof and Al-Ahmad. Mahsa Jina Amini (22) fell into a coma and died last week, Nika Shakarami (17) killed in detention(Nose broken…Head burst with hammer!), Hadis Najafi (23) shot dead, Sarina Esmaeilzadeh (16) beaten to death, Esra Panahi (16), schoolgirl, beaten to death after refusing to sing pro-regime anthem, Parmis Hamnava (14) beaten to death in front of her classmates. She died in hospital. :: #MahsaAmini :: #IranProtests Venice 2022 :: Horizons :: ‘World War III’ First trailer for Houman Seyedi’s Venice Horizons title After being cast in a movie, a day laborer has to secretly shelter his lover on the set or else risk losing her and all that movie stardom has promised him.. It is one of four Iranian films screening at the festival this year. Seyedi wrote, produced and edited World War III with Arian Vazirdaftari, whose own film 'Without Her' (Bi Roya) is also at Venice... Without her (Bi Roya) :: Orizzonti Extra :: Venice 2022 The story of someone actually losing her identity may seem surreal at first glance, but coming from a background where you’re blamed for who you are, it’s as realistic as it can get... Bench Cinema | Cinema Nimkat Set in an era when videos were against the law A movie set in an era when videos were against the law in Iran in the eighties. A man with the help of a group of cinema lovers decides to perform feature films in public places. Nasi spends months after release from prison, watching films and memorizes all the lines. He then travels around to perform the films as... SHAHRZAAD'S TALE The story of a lost era and a forgotten star A tale of an incredible female artist caught in three decades of political turmoil in the cultural landscape of contemporary Iran. Before the Iranian Revolution, Shahrzaad was a popular actress who performed in more than 50 movies, a female director who made the first feature film... Soley :: Light and Sound A poetic, musical film about exile, mysticism and music Arsalan Baraheni, a filmmaker living in Canada, portrays Soley's account of his life in exile. Soley (Soleyman Vaseghi) is a well known musician and singer who was forced to leave Iran after the revolution in 1979 when pop music got banned by the regime... SXSW 2022 :: THE LOCUST A Room of One's Own In our times, the life has turned into a talent show, putting spotlight on the winners.. Iranian director Faezeh Azizkhani’s second self-reflexive and cinephilic feature portrays a broke woman amidst personal crises and artistic frustrations... Atabai :: Movie Review A genuinely heartfelt, wise and tender emotional journey The story is about Kazem a middle aged man who lives in a village. He has left the university because of a former love but when two sisters enter his life he falls in love once again... 19 | Nouzdah (2021) Manizheh Hekmat announced the banning of "19" According to Saba News Agency the director of "19" announced on her social network that the 80- minute movie was banned and censored.. After getting infected with COVID 19, a 57-year- old painter, single woman, Mitra, goes into a coma. With her last breaths, she begins travelling to different pieces of her memories through her unconscious... Winners of the 2021 ‘Sepanta Awards’ 14th Annual Iranian Film Festival – San Francisco We are proud to continue our mission to discover and support the next generation of Iranian filmmakers living and working around the world, while we honor the veteran filmmakers for their distinguished careers. Please join us to... ‘Botox’ :: Film Review Shanghai International Film Festival 2021 Revolving around two women — one autistic, the other a beautician who gives the film its title — who take matters into their own hands when a dramatic event suddenly removes their brother from the story, Botox is a hard film to second-guess.... Coming event: 14th Annual Iranian Film Festival San Francisco: September 18-19, 2021 Call For Film Submissions Open For the 14th Annual Iranian Film Festival – San Francisco, the first independent Iranian film festival outside of Iran. To submit your film, please... 180° Rule :: Khate Farzi Film Review | TIFF 2020 Inspired by true events and marking the beginning of a trilogy about secrets and lies, 180° Rule is the debut feature from writer- director Farnoosh Samadi. Samadi’s piercing family drama plunges into the pitfalls of tradition, providing a glimpse into the customary Iranian family structure... 'TiTi' :: Film Review | Tokyo 2020 Fresh moments amid the conventions Iranian director Ida Panahandeh directs actress Elnaz Shakerdoost in another taboo-breaking performance as a Roma surrogate mother. The film’s theme is the role selflessness plays in a person’s life — caring about other people and humanity at large versus one's own little orchard... "Love Letters from the Middle East" K. Moradi and P. Azarbayjani‘s devastating Love Letters A trio of monologues about the plight of women affected by the upheaval in Afghanistan and Iraq. Featuring an Iraqi woman trying to negotiate a complicated immigration system in England, an Afghani burn victim looking for international financial assistance for reconstructive surgery, and the wife of an... Friendship The Documentary | Refaghat, Yek Mostanad A documentary regarding the artistic life of Googoosh "Googoosh is a legendary Iranian singer and actress whose career spans over 60 years across music and film, with her first appearance on stage being when she was just 3 years old. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, she played and starred in numerous successful blockbuster films and in 1968, she released... "African Violet" (2019) Humanity Blooms in All Its Complex Glory While some specifics of Iranian culture are on display, African Violet is universal in its approach to everyday people and their daily lives. The story begins simply enough, with a woman, Shokoo, discharging an older man from an assisted living facility... Suddenly A Tree :: Movie Review Personal narratives run deep at Persian Film Festival Suddenly A Tree, written and directed by Safi Yazdanian for big screen, is a completely different movie with a different style than his first feature What's The Time In Your World. Set during the Iran-Iraq War, Farhad (Payman Maadi) is arrested and imprisoned after trying to emigrate illegally with his partner... Winners of the 2020 'Sepanta Awards' Iranian Film Festival (IFF) San Francisco Family drama "Labyrinth" was the top winner at the 13th Annual Iranian Film Festival - San Francisco by receiving awards in four categories, including best film and best director. The winners were announced virtually last Friday. Also due to the current situation of the Covid-19 pandemic, the festival ran virtually this year.... Dance With Me :: Movie Review A Refreshing and Poetic Film from Iranian Cinema A movie that stands well on its own feet as an independent film like brilliant movie such as Saeed Roustayi's Just 6.5 and Houman Seyyedi's Sheeple. A group of old friends reunites when one of them (Ali Mosaffa, The Last Step) falls gravely ill in this Iranian ensemble dramedy.... Tale of The Sea :: Film Review The Iranian filmmaker's most personal film to date 'Where I come from, metaphors have replaced reality.' One of Iran's major filmmakers is at the top of his game with this Ingmar Bergman-esque meditation on old age. One man's madness as a metaphor for the surreal lives of a whole nation... Coming: 14th Annual Iranian Film Festival San Francisco: September 18-19, 2021 Call For Entries Open for the 14th Annual Iranian Film Festival – San Francisco, the first independent Iranian film festival outside of Iran... In Remembrance of Farzaneh Taidi A Prominent Iranian Actress Dies in Exile at 75 Those of us who recall the pre-revolutionary Iranian cinema would remember her as a daring artist with a theatre background who preferred avant-garde roles such as “The eighth day of the week” for which she won the then prestigious Iranian Sepaas award... The Oath (Ghasam) (2019) A woman organizes a busload of relatives to testify against her sister's presumed murderer in Mohsen Tanabandeh's drama... 'Bahram Beyzaie' :: A Mosaic Of Metaphors Bahram Beyzaie is one of the great filmmakers of Iran with an impressive body of work. Thanks to Bahman Maghsoudlou, It's now time for the world to get to know Bahram Beyzaei... Lovely Trash | Ashghal-haye Doost Dashtani (2019) Following protests to the presidential election in 2009, an elderly woman has one night to clear her house of any politically troublesome belongings of her family... 'Shahla Riahi' :: First Iranian Female filmmaker and actress dies at 92 Actress Shahla Riahi, who presented herself as Iran's first female director in 1957 by making “Marjan”, died of Alzheimer's in Tehran on Tuesday. She was 92... "Paternal House" Kianoush Ayari's film was again banned! Kianoush Ayari's film "The Paternal House" was again banned. The conservative opposition has called it anti-Iranian and anti-religious. Proponents have praised the film, while some others consider the basement where the girl's body is buried as a symbol of secrecy in society... Axing | Darkoob (2018) Winner of the 2019 'Sepanta Awards' An addict woman has been told that she has lost her child, and her husband has abandoned her for starting a new life, she finds them and gets in the middle of their new happy life!... 'Just 6.5' ('Metri Shesh-o Nim') (2019) One of the top titles presented at the Fajr Film Festival's Iranian Film Market, Just 6.5 (Metri Shesh-o Nim) walks the razor's edge of spiraling tension as ambiguous good-bad cop Samad (Payman Maadi) slyly maneuvers the kingly young drug lord Nasser (Navid Mohammadzadeh) into his trap... Tickets on Sale Now: 12th Annual Iranian Film Festival – San Francisco Iranian Film Festival - San Francisco, the first independent Iranian film festival outside of Iran will present a record breaking 50 films at its 12th annual event. The films range from fiction, documentary, animation, short....to music video... Saedi: Freedom and Other Maladies (2016) The documentary film focuses on the last four years of Gholam-Hossein Saedi's life in Paris, at the peak of his suffering, painfully aware that he would die in exile. It depicts Saedi's restless passion and heartbroken demise based on letters that he wrote over the years... Kiarostami foundation Restores Movies for Worldwide Screenings TEHRAN – The Abbas Kiarostami Foundation announced on Wednesday that it has completed the restoration of a large lineup of his films for screening worldwide. The lineup includes all the short films he made for the Institute for... Film Review :: We Like You Miss Yaya Miss Yaya Is Absolutely Not A Comedy "We Like You, Ms. Yaya" is Abdolreza Kahani's 11th film. For the second time in a career that has been marked by repeated troubles with censorship, the director has chosen to work outside of Iran, and shot his film in Thailand... Cold Sweat (Aragh-e Sard) Screening in LA Like many Iranian films of late, this one depicts a society plighted by inertia and helplessness, especially for women treated as less than equal by the law. Even for a star athlete — and one has brought honor to her country — victory is forever out of reach... Film Review :: Sheeple An Iranian Crime-Family Drama of Explosive Originality Navid Mohammadzadeh is powerful as a nattering drug pusher sunk in torment in an Iranian crime-family drama of explosive originality. Well-deserving of exposure to international audiences who, however, will have to adjust their ideas about soft-spoken Iranian drama... BOMB, A LOVE STORY At UCLA Celebration of Iranian Cinema 'Bomb, a Love Story' is about love and war, or better to say, how cruelty of war helps blossoming of a love. 'Bomb, a Love Story' will be screened on May 10, 2019 – 7:30 pm at Billy Wilder Theater as part of UCLA Celebration of Iranian Cinema... Call for Entries Open for: The 12th Annual Iranian Film Festival - San Francisco The 12th Annual Iranian Film Festival - San Francisco, a showcase for the independent feature and short films made by or about Iranians from around the world, is inviting the filmmakers from all over the world to submit their films for the next edition taking place in September 2019 in San Francisco... UCLA Film Archive UCLA Celebration of Iranian Cinema 2019 UCLA Film Archive continues its long tradition of celebrating the best cinema from Iran and the Iranian diaspora with the latest edition of its annual survey of works by Iranian filmmakers, past and present... None of Your Business | Va Kas Che (2019) Kamran Heidari's latest documentary film A documentary film regarding the life and death of a popular southern Iranian guitar player, singer and poet, mostly known as Ebram. He was born 70 years ago in Bandar-Abbas and had suffered such a sad end that made it almost impossible for one to tell if... 'Two patches of clouds' (2018) Mehrshad Karkhani's seventh feature length movie According to the director, the subject of this movie is not only the lost things, but also the people getting lost, an issue that is rooted in the contemporary history of our country. Mehrshad Karkhani's new film will be screened in Art & Experience cinematic group... PIG | Khook - Film Review Mani Haghighi's Brilliant Dark Comedy This brilliant dark comedy should not come as a surprise, as Mani Haghighi, its writer and director, has been making a steady progress in his filmmaking. From Men at Work to Modest Reception and then A Dragon Arrives, he has shown interest in dark humor that puts the viewers on the edge of their seats... 'Tala (Gold)' (2019) Parviz Shahbazi's latest feature film 'Tala (Gold)' is a star-filled film at the helm of Parviz Shahbazi that is competing for Crystal Simorgh at the 37th Fajr Film Festival. Rambod Javan, the producer, is hopeful for 'Tala' to grab various nominations at the festival... Fajr Film Festival 2019 The 37th edition of the Fajr Film Festival The 37th edition of the Fajr Film Festival kicked off on January 30, 2019, and will run until February 11 in Tehran.Three films have been screened on the first day of the 37th Fajr Film Festival (FFF) in the Iranian capital Tehran... House of Paper (2017) A feature film by Mehdi Sabbaghzadeh The death of a fellow writer and the return of a lover from abroad inspires a famous journalist to return to work with his daughter as the two investigate the mafia and political corruption - an investigation which will put them both in grave danger... A Tribute to Hossein Erfani Voice of Bogart in Dubbed Movies One of the greatest Iranian voice actors Hossein Erfani died last year due to lung cancer. He was 76. Erfani was born on July 27, 1942 in Tehran. He acted in numerous films and series and for over five decades he dubbed voices of many renowned Iranian and international movie characters ... Majan (2017) Rahman Seifi Azad's First Feature Film 'Majan', meaning dear mom in some Persian accents, is a social drama about a couple who must deal with the challenge of raising their ill child. Shot in Tehran and north Iran, 'Majan' went on screen for the first time at the Iran Cinema Perspective section of the Fajr Film Festival in its 35th edition... Song of Exile (2016) A contemplation on longing and the 'Wound' of Exile 'Exile' is like standing naked before a rapidly alienating world. With his stories about alienation and longing, the Iranian writer Nasim Khaksar is constantly ripping open the wound called 'exile'. In the film the writer takes the reversed path he took almost 35 years ago... Rainy Seasons (2010) Set in the rarely seen world of Iranian middle class youth, this is a gritty urban drama of modern teenage life in Teheran today. Sina, a 16-year-old teenager from Teheran's middle class, experiences a new life on the verge of his parents' divorce... Parviz (2012) Iranian writer-director Majid Barzegar's second feature Under alien conditions, the normally mild-mannered Parviz begins to discover the more forceful aspects of his personality. In discovering the violent power he can yield he begins to show his father and the other residents that they cannot cast him out of their lives so easily... 12th Annual Iranian Film Festival – San Francisco Call For Entries Open for the 12th Annual Iranian Film Festival – San Francisco, the first independent Iranian film festival outside of Iran. Last year, the festival presented films ranging from fiction, documentary, animation, short, children, music video….to experimental... Parallel Shadows | Sayehay-e Movaazi (2016) Iranian writer-director Asghar Na'imi's third feature "Parallel Shadows" is a free adaptation from Fyodor Dostoevsky's "A Gentle Creature" directed by Asghar Na'imi and played by Shahab Hosseini, Abolfazl Pourarab, Samira Hassanpour and Hadis Foladvand. It tells the story of a single and depressed man cut off from his past, who is trying to find out... In Memory of Ali Moallem & Aref Lorestani Ali Moallem, film producer, publisher and managing director and editor-in-chief of Donya-ye-Tasvir (Picture World) magazine and Iranian comedian Aref Lorestani, the renowned TV actor died both of cardiac arrest in the same year... SHEEPLE | The Little Rusty Brains (2018) A True Master Class of Acting! The story of a gang of drug dealers in the south of Tehran who has sheltered many youngsters and orphans from the streets. Shahin and Shakoor who are brothers are leading the gang but when it is collapsed creates a crisis in their family and their lives... Vahid Jalilvand talks about "No Date, No Signature", Iran's Oscar Entery “No Date, No Signature”, directed by Vahid Jalilvand is Iranian entry for Best Foreign language Film Award. “No Date, No Signature” has been quite successful in film festival circuits by winning numerous awards... Another Time | Zamani Digar (2018) Iranian writer-director Nahid Hassanzadeh's first feature Directed by Nahid Hassanzadeh, 'Another Time' tells the story of Ghadir who is a chemical plant worker going through a hard time. After protesting against being unpaid for over a year, he is arrested during a demonstration and imprisoned without trial... Godfrey Cheshire's Interview with Legendary Iranian cinematographer Mahmoud Kalari When Asghar Farhadi's A Separation became the first Iranian film to win the Oscar for Best Foreign-Language Film of 2012, it gave the world a look at the work not only of one of Iran's most acclaimed writer-directors but also of an Iranian cinematographer whose skills have contributed to dozens of important films of... A Canary, A Crow (2017) A woman, a man and a rifle in one house This is the directortial debut of prolific novelist and screenwriter Asghar Abdollahi. Through her husband's negligence a woman is blinded in one eye. Angry and ashamed, she refuses to venture outside. There is a chronic... 'Master actor' of Iranian cinema dies at the age of 94 Legendary veteran Iranian actor dies at 94 Ezzatollah Entezami, one of the most prominent actors of the Iranian cinema and theater, who was named 'master actor' in his memoirs written by Hushang Golmakani, died on Friday at the age of 94... Tickets on Sale Now: The 11th Annual Iranian Film Festival - San Francisco Iranian Film Festival - San Francisco, the first independent Iranian film festival outside of Iran, which showcases independent feature and short films made by or about Iranians from around the world, will present 48 films at its 11th annual event... Amir (2018) Karlovy Vary IFF 2018 - East of the West - Competition Amir is a film about contemporary Iran, about a generation whose private lives are determined more by the rules of society than by their own will. Nima Eghlima's feature debut is a film about a contemporary Iranian generation that is subject to so many rules there's no room for free will... Wake Up, Arezoo! | Bidar show, Arezoo! Just after the Bam earthquake of December 2003, a woman, Reyhaneh, emerges screaming from the rubble of her house, thinking that no-one else in there has survived. Director Kianoush Ayari's story of human tragedy and survival... The Time I came Back! (GHASHANG & FARANG )(2016) Bahram and Hamid are living with their mothers, Ghashang and Farang. Bahram is a film critic and Hamid, a dentist who is not well committed to his wife. This is why, his wife has left for France with the excuse of higher education.... Razor's Edge: The Legacy of Iranian Actresses An examination of the work and lives of actresses in the Iranian film industry prior to the 1979 revolution, featuring myriad interviews and rare film clips... Vida Ghahremani Legendary Iranian-American Actress leaves our world Today the legendary Iranian-American actress Vida Ghahremani passed away after battling cancer for many years. She went beyond taboos of her time to have the very first... Iranian Veteran Actor dies at 88 Nasser Malek-Motiei, Iranian Veteran Actor, who appeared in over 100 movies and TV series, in most of which he played the roles of virile characters, died at Tehran's Aatieh Hospital on Friday night, he was 88... Bridge OF Sleep | Pol-e Khaab (2016) Tehran-born writer-director Oktay Baraheni's first feature Oktay Baraheni's first feature, the social drama 'Bridge of Sleep', freely adapts Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment and transposes it to contemporary Iran... Call for Entries Open for: The 11th Annual Iranian Film Festival - San Francisco San Francisco: The 11th Annual Iranian Film Festival - San Francisco, a showcase for independent feature and short films made by or about Iranians from around the world, is inviting the filmmakers from all over the world to submit their films to the next edition taking place in September 2018.. Bomb, A Love Story (2018) Payman Moaadi's Second feature film 'Bomb, a Love Story' is the story of those people who were not given the opportunity to fall in love, live, work and fulfil their lives as they deemed fit. The story of people caught up in the tyranny of time and place, but whose unfulfilled desires and dreams still haunt us... Dressage (2018) :: Film Review winner of a special mention in Berlin's Generation 14plus An Iranian teenage girl takes part in a robbery but the fun ends there in Pooya Badkoobeh's moral drama, which won a special mention in Berlin's Generation 14plus sidebar. This first feature by Pooya Badkoobeh, who has made a career directing TV commercials, plunges deeply into the muddled, exasperating world of teenagers.. Mohammad Ali Keshavarz Special Honor for His 88th Birthday Newly established Shahrak Cineplex in Tehran hosted a ceremony on Friday to honor the veteran actor Mohammad-Ali Keshavarz on the occasion of his 88th birthday. One of the most experienced and prominent living actors of Iranian cinema... Gholam (2017) Shahab Hosseini delivers a nuanced performance 'Gholam' is the debut feature from award-winning Iranian artist and filmmaker Mitra Tabrizian, in collaboration with Cyrus Massoudi. Shahab Hosseini offers a nuanced study in acting minimalism with this melancholy portrait of a man living in exile in London, never quite beyond the reach of his own troubled past... The Bright Day | Rooz-e Roshan (2013) One of the Best Iranian first feature films Farhoudi (Pantea Bahram), is a teacher who wants to prevent the father of a student from being unjustly sentenced for homicide: her mission is to convince the witnesses to testify in favor of the accused. She must prove that... Italy Italy | Italia Italia (2017) Screened at the 8th London Iranian Film Festival "Italy Italy" is full of cinematic and literary references. In spite of it's claim of being adapted from Jhumpa Lahiri's novel of the same name, there are also references to Khaled Hosseini's last published work, Dariush Mehrjui's "Hamoun", along with the presence of some figures from Iranian cinema... The Sale (2015) One of the 10 Best Iranian Films of 2015 Forough is a middle aged woman whose husband has temporarily married with another woman. Even though that was kept secret from her, but his action is considered legal in Iran. Now the husband is in prison, due to not being able to pay second wife's.. Mani Haghighi's new Film "Pig" to Compete for Golden Bear Award at Berlinale Directed and produced by Mani Haghighi, Pig will have its world premiere at the Berlinale. The story centers on Hasan, a filmmaker, who thinks he is the best in the country but has problems with making his new film... Subdued (2017) Story of a woman going through a nervous breakdown Nematollah's smart direction, the stunning cinematography by Farshad Mohammadi and Hatami's electric performance have all won raves for a film that has become one of the biggest box office and critical hits of the year in Iran... Israfil (2017) Screened at the London Film Festival Director Ida Panahandeh's follow-up to the brilliant 'Nahid' has screened at the London Film Festival and the Fajr Film Festival where it premiered. When Mahi's son dies in a car accident, Behrouz who has returned to Iran to sell his properties, attends the funeral. Their old romance catches up while... Night Train To Lisbon Annette Focks Search Search Online Film Home: fa en All Directors Titles Names Events Blog posts Julianne Moore leads red carpet protest in Venice for jailed Iranian filmmakers Choose an item to go there! African Film Festival NYWorld Cinema ProjectIFFDEFCCPH:DOXIYCSCWBAmerican Film Institute Danish Film InstituteFilm MagazineFajr Film FestivalIrish Film InstituteMUBIi movieCarl Th. DreyerBahman FarmanaraBahman GhobadiIranianShortFilmFesCinemaemaCaffecinemaFilm FestivalsCannesRotterdam IFFSight & SoundTIFFshortfilmfestivalIFFRCPH Film Festival30nemaHedayatfilmIrfilmsKiarostamiMakhmalbafKimiayeeParviz SayyadIran actorKurd filmOfilmMilad FilmPayvandKargahIran OnlineIran NewsHoroscopeIching Links Home Archived news OFH Bright version Iran news Find a birthday!