Mani Haghighi’s Film "Pig"
to Compete for Golden Bear Award at Berlinale

financialtribune.com,
January 17, 2018

The competition lineup for the 68th Berlin International Film Festival (Berlianle) slated for February 15-25, is taking shape, with organizers adding a raft of new titles Monday, including ‘Pig’ by Mani Haghighi.

Premieres February 21, 2018, Runtime 108 mins, Director Mani Haghighi, Writer Mani Haghighi (screenplay) Country Iran, Language Persian, Genres Drama, Comedy

According to the festival website, ten new films have joined the eight movies in the Competition section. Besides Iran, the other new entries are from France, Germany, Ireland, the UK and other European countries, as well as from the US and Paraguay.  Names of other films in the Competition section will be revealed soon.

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. Meanwhile, there is a serial killer in the city, murdering all famous movie directors. When in social networks Hasan is considered the main suspect, he has to think of a plan to restore his dignity, Cinema Daily reported.

Hasan Majuni, Leila Hatami, Leili Rashidi, Ali Mosaffa, Parinaz Izadyar and Ali Bagheri are in the cast.
Haghighi was present at the competition of 2016 Berlinale with his ‘A Dragon Arrives!’ and received positive reviews from acclaimed critics. The film won the Critics’ prize at the 12th Bucharest International Film Festival in 2016.

The 48-year-old is a filmmaker, screenwriter and actor, is best known for the tragicomedy ‘Modest Reception’, which was screened in the Berlin fest’s Forum Section in 2012 and won the NETPAC Prize for Best Asian Film.

Mani Haghighi at the 66th Berlinale, 2016

Berlinale is one of the world’s leading film festivals and most reputable media events. It is held annually in Berlin, Germany.

With German director, screenwriter, film composer and producer Tom Tykwer serving as jury president this year, the international jury will decide the winners of the Golden Bear and Silver Bears of the 2018 Berlinale Competition.

The awards include: Golden Bear for Best Film (awarded to the film producer) and Silver Bears of Grand Jury Prize and Alfred Bauer Prize for a feature film that opens new perspectives, as well as Silver Bears for best director, best actress, best actor, best screenplay and outstanding artistic contribution in the categories camera, editing, music score, costume or set design.

Iran won the Golden Bear in 2011 for Asghar Farhadi’s film ‘A Separation’ and the Silver Bear several times by various filmmakers and actors.


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Synopsis

Hasan is seething with rage. A blacklisted director, it’s been years since he was allowed to shoot a film. In Tehran and its environs, filmmakers are being murdered. But why is the serial killer ignoring him of all people? Hasan is crushed: isn’t he the best filmmaker in town?

Premieres February 21, 2018, Runtime 108 mins, Director Mani Haghighi, Writer Mani Haghighi (screenplay) Country Iran, Language Persian, Genres Drama, Comedy

Hasan is full of rage. He's been blacklisted and hasn't been allowed to make a film in years. His star, a woman he adores, is impatient and wants to work with other directors. His wife seems to have fallen out of love with him, and his mother has become old and is slowly losing her mind. Worst of all, film directors across the city are being murdered one after the other, but the serial killer is inexplicably ignoring him. Hasan's feelings are hurt: isn't he the most accomplished filmmaker in town? So why is he being neglected? All these frustrations come to a head when, through a series of bizarre misunderstandings, he becomes the prime suspect in the serial murder case.