American film critic Deborah Young had a presser Sunday in Charsou Cineplex, the main venue for this year’s Fajr International Film Festival.
Young said she is familiar with the cinemas of Abba Kiarostami and Asghar Farhadi, and that she has even written reviews about their award-winning movies.
She added: I first came to know the Iranian cinema in the Damascus Film Festival. After that, in 1990 I watched old Iranian movies with help from the Farabi Cinema Foundation. Same year, I met Kiarostami and several other Iranian directors, and then visited Iran 12 times. I still follow news about the Iranian cinema.
Young referred to herself as the Chief International Critic at The Hollywood Reporter: My focus is also on Middle East cinema. It is my belief that Iran has the most fascinating cinema in the region. It’s been a very good year for Fajr too. I’ve been here for two days now. The biggest difference this year is that you can now watch foreign movies at the festival. I can’t wait to watch Rain of Homs.
In conclusion, the American film critic said Iranian filmmakers are independent: They have their own way of thinking and they never follow Hollywood or Bollywood. I’d love to watch movies by Iranian women as well. I think they have a lot to offer.
Presided over by writer-director Reza Mirkarimi, the 36th edition of Fajr International Film Festival runs in Charsou Cineplex and other venues in Tehran until April 27.
