Persian International Film Festival – Sanaz Fotouhi on Something Else
One of the most vibrant and exciting of Sydney’s arts events, the Persian International Film Festival, is back this year and opens on 22nd August with a fantastic program of contemporary cinema from Iran, Afghanistan and the greater international Persian speaking diaspora.
This year the festival has a tribute to the special guest prominent Iranian actress and director Niki Karimi, with her hosting several Q&As, workshops with her involving both AFTRS and SFS. The festival will be screening films she has directed and that she has starred in.
Final Whistle, Niki Karimi, 2011
The PIFF is also holding a retrospective of 50yrs of Iranian cinema with classic and influential films of the past half century being screened, including Abbas Kiarostami’s intriguing documentary reenactment of a true story of imposture, ‘Close Up’ (1990), Mohsen Makhmalbaf’s acclaimed fictionalisation of a journey back home, ‘Kandahar’ (2001), Asghar Farhadi’s famous fourth film ‘About Elly’ (2009) and many more.
Close Up, Abbas Kiarostami, 1990
Other things to look out for are Kiarostami’s latest film ‘Like Somebody in Love’, a curious love story set in Japan and centering around the meeting of an elderly man and a young woman he thinks he recognises. The feature film Offside by Jafar Panahi is screening with a short film about the infamous ’98 Australia vs Iran world cup qualifying match are playing to celebrate the Asian Football Cup.
Chicken with Plums, Marjane Satrapi, 2011
The Opening and Closing Night ceremonies are set to be big events, especially if last year’s festival is anything to go by, music, food, dancing and much celebration of the depth and varieties Persian cultures and of Persian cinema and art.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3eqrq5UbrI?feature=player_embedded&w=640&h=360]
Join Maren on Something Else, your weekly guide to alternative arts and culture, at 6pm tonight as she speaks to Sanaz Fotouhi co-director of the Persian Internationa Film Festival 2013 and producer at Palangi Productions.
Persian International Film Festival
22nd August- 1st Septmber,
Dendy Opera Quays and Dendy Newtown