Behrouz Nouranipour: FIFF Connects the Iranian Cinema to the International Cinema Industry

Behrouz Nouranipour believes that becoming international is a new way for Fajr Film Festival to introduce the potentials of the Iranian Cinema to the world.
In an interview with the public relations office of the 34th FIFF, Behrouz Nouranipour, the director of the documentary ‘A157’ stated that “the first layer of a documentary is its theme and subject, but the second layer focuses on the national issues and concerns. And that is, how good it is to live together in peace. In the film you see women whose security is tarnished and whose humanity is disrespected. This tragedy happens somewhere not so far from Iran and it may even become a worldwide tragedy, as within the recent months the refugee crisis has reached Europe as well”.
“Today, insecurity, violence and fanaticism have infected Europe too. And one can say that peace has become an international concern. This documentary focuses on this international concern and its theme can be a good reason for its presence in an international festival- a festival which has been separated from the national body to connect the Iranian cinema to the international cinema industry”, he added.
“Iranian Cinema deserves to be internationally seen and appreciated. Our films are limited to being screened in some foreign countries, but an international festival we can develop a market, other cineastes can come to Iran and see our films and the international concerns. Only in this way, our films will have the chance not to be archived after being screened”, Nouranipour pointed out.
He believed that holding an international festival is a great approach, and if it is done in the right way it can have great effects on the Iranian cinema.
Responding to a question regarding the moving theme of the film and the way he dealt with it, Nouranipour said, “I was, and still am, so affected and moved by the theme of the film, but the day I started working on it I tried not to get involved with emotions and different concerns. I tried to look at the subject as an objective documentary filmmaker, so that I could record everything without being judgmental and let the audience feel the insecurity caused by war as they are seeing the film”. “ISIS and the aftermath of their attacks in the region have no positive aspects to be found. However, as a documentarist, I simply had to narrate this bitter story objectively so that the audience would directly face its bitterness and follow its theme. Yet, there were nights I could not sleep: when I thought that there were 17000 people living in the same situation- when I thought how pregnancy, which by nature is a wonderful experience, became a horrible nightmare for a woman. Thinking about these really bothered me”, Nouranipour stated.
The 34th edition of Fajr International Film Festival will be held from April 20th to April 25th, 2016 in Charsou Cineplex, under the supervision of the well-known Iranian filmmaker, Mr. Reza Mirkarimi, who is also the Managing Director of Khaneh Cinema.
For more information on Fajr International Film Festival, visit the festival website, www.fajriff.com