“Exodus”, Bahman Kiarostami’s latest documentary that studies the return of undocumented Afghan migrants from Iran following the deep recession facing the country, was selected as best feature-length documentary in the international competition of the 12th Cinéma Vérité festival, the organizers announced on Sunday. “I just came on stage to express my thanks for your participation, […]
“Exodus”, Bahman Kiarostami’s latest documentary that studies the return of undocumented Afghan migrants from Iran following the deep recession facing the country, was selected as best feature-length documentary in the international competition of the 12th Cinéma Vérité festival, the organizers announced on Sunday.
“I just came on stage to express my thanks for your participation, especially for the guests coming from other countries,” director of the festival, Mohammad-Mehdi Tabatabainejad, said during the closing ceremony of Iran’s major documentary film festival at Tehran’s Andisheh Hall.
The special jury award in the feature-length category went to “Alicia” by Dutch filmmaker Maasja Ooms. It tells the heartrending story of Alicia, who is removed from her home when she was just a year old and is placed in an orphanage.
“Lulu: The Pearl Boxer” by Tanzanian filmmaker Asimwe John Bibagamba received the special jury award in the medium-length and short documentary sections.
“Shouting at the Wind”, the story of a teenage boy who lives along with his family in the slums of Tehran and dreams of becoming a singer, won the award for best medium-length documentary.
The award for best director was presented to Farah Zare’ for her short documentary “Mahiak” about a young woman who plans to marry, but her strange skin problem thwarts her plan.
Winners in the national competition were also honored at the ceremony.
“A House for You”, produced by Mehdi Shahmohammadi about a young bankrupt person who makes new decisions after he is diagnosed with an advanced cancer, was picked as best documentary.
Filmmaker Manuchehr Moshiri (C) poses after receiving his lifetime achievement award from director Rakhshan Bani-Etemad (R) and film expert Fakhreddin Anvaar during the 12th Cinéma Vérité festival at Tehran’s Andisheh Hall on December 16, 2018. (IRNA/Amin Jalali)
he audience award went to “In the Realm of the Spider-tailed Viper” by Fat’hollah Amiri about the spider-tailed viper that lives in the western Iranian province of Ilam.
In addition, Hossein Torabi, the director of the acclaimed documentary “For Freedom” about the 1979 Islamic Revolution, and Manuchehr Moshiri, who is famous for his social and biographical documentary films, were honored with lifetime achievement awards.
