Iran’s cinematic treat

The Iranian Film Festival promises a bounty for true cinema lovers

Movies are perhaps the best mode of cultural exchange. Especially when the country in question is Iran whose movies are mostly devoid of camera tricks, montage and meticulous mise-en-scene – things inherent to Bollywood.

Digital Academy – The Film School is hosting the Iranian Film Festival in association with the Iran Cultural Centre of Mumbai. The festival to be held on Feb 10 and 11 at the Academy premises promises films of critically acclaimed directors like Majid Majidi and Azizollah Hamidnejad.

“Ours is an academy that celebrates cinema and the film festival is being held with that purpose. Anyone who comes for it will see some rare and brilliant movies from Iran,” says Neha Talreja, Director of Digital Academy.

The festival movies promise a true cinematic treat. While ‘Father’ won the jury prize at the San Sebastian International Film Festival, another movie ‘Children of Heaven’ won the Best Asian Feature Film award at the Singapore International Film Festival.

“Iranian movies are not made with a commercial purpose but are solely based on true incidents portrayed with artistic brilliance. That’s the reason these movies have won many international awards,” adds in Mohammed Reza Mirzaei, Head of the Iran Cultural Centre in Mumbai.