The awards ceremony for the 35th Fajr International Film Festival took place on Thursday evening, 27 April, at Tehran’s Vahdat Hall, with all the winners, as they were announced.
In attendance were Culture Minister Seyyed Reza Salehi Amiri, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, Director of Iranian Cinema Organization Mohammad Mehdi Heydarian, plus a large number of A-list Iranian and foreign film directors, producers, critics, journalists, academics, and stars.
Addressing the participants, Fajr festival director Seyyed Reza Mirkarimi said: I would like to extend my gratitude to all those who worked round the clock to help me make this up-and-coming event possible. We are now more than ever determined to turn Fajr International Film Festival into an annual event for those who are vying for global peace, justice and dignity both in their films and in their workings.
Hosted by prominent actor Ashkan Khatibi, the ceremony was broadcast live in both English and Persian languages.
Full List of Winners:
International Competition (Cinema of Salvation)
Golden Simorgh for Best Film: The Home, Asghar Yousefinejad, Iran
Silver Simorgh for Best Director: Ivan D. Gaona, Guilty Men, Colombia
Silver Simorgh for Best Actress: Margita Gosheva, Glory, Bulgaria
Silver Simorgh for Best Actor: Stefan Denolyubov, Glory, Bulgaria
Silver Simorgh for Best Script: The Home, Asghar Yousefinejad, Iran
Silver Simorgh for Special Jury Prize – Art Direction and Cinematography: Zhu Jinjing (Cinematography), Wang Tou (Art Director), Mr. No Problem, (China, France)
Silver Simorgh for Best Short Film: Online Shopping, Ghasideh Golmakani, Iran
Jury: Florian Gallenberger (Germany), Jessica Woodworth (USA), Lech Majewski (Poland), Mieko Harada (Japan), Uberto Pasolini (Italy), Fatemah Motamed-Aria (Iran), and Rasoul Sadrameli (Iran).
Muhammad Al Ameen Award
Babaei, Mozaffar Hosseinkhani Hezaveh, Iran
Asian Film Awards
Best Asian Film: Returnee, Sabit Kurmanbekov, Kazakhstan
Best Asian Director: Shahrbanoo Sadat, Wolf and Sheep, Afghanistan/Denmark/France/Sweden
Best Asian Short Film: Not Yet, Arian Vazirdaftari, Iran
Jury: Hamida Omarova (Azerbaijan), Omirbaev Darezhan Karazhanovich (Kazakhstan), Zeki Demirkubuz (Turkey), Nejib Ayed (Tunisia), and Kamal Tabrizi (Iran).
Interfaith Award
Knife in the Clear Water, Wang Xuebo, China
Jury: Michał Legan (Poland), Katia Malatesta (Italy), and Hojatollah Ayoubi (Iran).
NETPAC Prize
The Home, Asghar Yousefinejad, Iran
Jury: Anne Demy-Geroe (Australia), Rolando B. Tolentino (Philipines), and Houshang Golmakani (Iran).
