Fajr International Film Festival is set to screen Abbas Kiarostami’s last feature-length movie, Take Me Home, on Saturday.
According to program manager Seifollah Samadian, this year’s run is also commemorating the late Iranian filmmaker who passed away in 2016. The program includes an exhibition of works by the A-list filmmaker in the form of photos, posters, and cartoons at the Charsou Cineplex.
He says, “Prominent Iranian and foreign A-list directors, film critics and suchlike will discuss the different aspects of Kiarostami’s personality and work. They include directors such as Victor Erice (Spain), Fridrik Thor Fridriksson (Iceland), Semih Kaplanoglu (Turkey), and American film critic Godfrey Cheshire.”
According to Samadian, there will also be video massages relayed from actress Juliette Binoche (France), director Martin Scorsese (US), Jill Jacobs (former director of Cannes Film Festival), film critic Geoff Andrew (Britain), director of cinematography Luca Bigazzi (Italy), film critic Jonathan Rosenbaum (US), movie researcher Mehrnaz Saeed-Vafa (US), and director Asghar Farhadi (Iran).
When Kiarostami passed away on July 4 of last year, he left a void in the film community. In his self-conscious manipulation of and inquiry into the thin line separating documentary from fiction, the filmmaker demonstrated a profound understanding of the limits and potential of cinema as both a form of artistic expression and a mode of social and political engagement. Through his work, Kiarostami has touched so many people. It only feels right that he will be commemorated at an international event as high-profile as Fajr Film Festival.
For all festivalgoers who are already planning their visit, check screening time and other information at Fajriff.com or email the Secretariat at Film@Fajriff.com.
Presided over by Reza Mirkarimi, the 35th edition of Fajr International Film Festival will take place from 21 to 28 April in Tehran.
