In less than twenty years, Iranian cinema has emerged in all the international festivals. This cinema, original with its codes, its references, its aesthetics and its authors, has become an essential expression vector for the civil society. For two decades, Iran has an undeniable cinematic unprecedented outbreak. But today the names of Abbas Kiarostami, Shahid Saless, Mohsen Makhmalbaf are not enough to talk about Iranian cinema, despite their high international profile and as a report on an Iranian creation extremely diverse.

This will give the opportunity to the audience in Montreal to see what is happening in filmmaking, beyond Iran’s borders, by these talented emerging filmmakers who will present a screening of their films during two special sessions.

The lineup of the Festival will present films from directors Kiarash ANVARI, Sadaf FOROUGHI, Parissa MOHIT and Golkou PARHIZGAR. The screenings will be followed by a discussion session during which the filmmakers will respond to questions by the audience.

Program

Born in 1977 in Tehran, Kiarash Anvari is a photographer, video artist and independent filmmaker. He first studied film in his hometown, Tehran, where he obtained his bachelor degree and then continued his training in France at the University of Provence with a Master’s degree in film studies. As the two films that you will have the chance to discover during the programming at Festival Accès Asie, Anvari’s films have been screened in different venues and festivals around the world.

Also born in Tehran, in 1976, Sadaf Foroughi is an Iranian film maker, video artist and film editor. Foroughi has a bachelor degree in French literature. After receiving her master degree in film studies from University of Provence in Aix-en-Provence, France, she continued her studies of a PhD in film philosophy. She also completed the New York Film Academy’s film making courses. Her films and video art pieces have been screened in different venues and festivals around the world.

Parissa Mohit studied stage design for four years, after which she continued her artistic explorations in the world of animation. She believes that her experience in the construction and design of scenery has influenced her animation style. Indeed, she tries to create imaginary worlds with her own hands at different scales and it is in these worlds where her films become alive.

Golkou Parhizgar is a young British/Iranian producer and documentary filmmaker. She is currently based in London. In 2005, she was awarded the Welsch Lottery Fund Millennium Award to co-produce and co-direct her graduation film Light in Shadow. Her film won the award for best student film award at Finest Films Awards in Cardiff and in 2006, she also won the best short film prize at the Black Women Film Festival in London. Since graduating with a BA in Film & Video, Golkou Parhizgar has worked with numerous film directors as an assistant, such as Bahman Ghobadi, director of No One Knows about Persian Cats. Due to her strong interest in themes of diversity, Golkou Parhizgar aspires to produce films that explore issues of cross cultural society.