The bitter social drama ‘Life+1 Day’ by first timer Saeed Roustaei won a total of nine Crystal Simorgh (Iranian mythical flying creature) awards at the closing ceremony of the 34th Fajr Film Festival (FFF), breaking the record for the number of awards won by a movie at any of the previous FFF editions.

The ceremony, held at Tehran’s Milad Tower on Thursday (Feb. 11) on the occasion of the 37th anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, saw the winners of different sections of the festival awarded in the presence of a large audience of cineastes and cultural figures, ISNA reported.

While the award winners were a mix of young and veteran figures, ‘Life+1 Day’, on the subject of acid attack (on women) and retribution, which led the list of nominations, selected by the jury members in 12 categories, was the real surprise of the night as it grabbed the major awards.

Juries of the New Vision section, for the first feature films by any director, and the main competition section both awarded the 26-year-old filmmaker Roustaei with the best director Simorgh. In addition, producer Saeed Malekan won the best film award of the New Vision section.

The movie won five more awards in the main competition section for the best actress Parinaz Izadyar, 30,  best supporting actor Navid Mohammadzadeh, 26, best script by Roustaei, best make-up design by Malekan, and best editing by Bahram Dehghani.

Along with the jury votes, the movie was also hugely welcomed by the public and critics during the 10-day festival, and added one more award, that of the best film by viewers’ choice, to its collection of Simorgh statuettes.

Roustaei appreciated Malekan for supporting the movie and said, “The first step was taken when Malekan showed faith in my script, since for two years nobody even bothered to have a look at the screenplay.”

Expressing his pleasure at the presence of young artists in cinema, Dehghani, 61, said “Contrary to what some critics say, I am glad that Roustaei and his peers will not let Iran cinema fail (with their talent and innovations)”.

Other Winners

The other big winner of the event was another first ‘Standing in the Dust’ directed by Mohammad-Hussein Mahdavian that won four awards. A movie on the life of Ahmad Motevaselian, Iranian commander in the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war, it has been welcomed by the public and critics. It also features real footage of Motevaselian on the battle front.

Produced by Habib Valinejad, the movie was selected as the best film of the festival. The awards for the best set and costume design went to Mohammadreza Shojaei and the best especial effects to Iman Karamian. Mahdavian also received the award for the best director in the New Vision section.

‘Bodyguard’ the latest work by veteran director Ebrahim Hatamikia picked two prizes. Parviz Parastui, 60, won the best actor award and the Simorgh for the best visual effects went to Seyyed Hadi Eslami.

Hatamikia, whose film despite the expectations by many experts was not among the nominees for the best film and director, was absent at the event; however, his name was repeated several times by the winners as a great filmmaker who should not be forgotten. Moreover, Eslami and Parastui both dedicated their prizes to him.

In a short speech Parastui said, “Hatamikia is the creator of ‘Bodyguard’ and I am happy to have played a role with his guidance which was recognized by the jury as worthy of an award. So I dedicate my Simorgh to Hatamikia and also to the five great masters of acting in Iran who are not present in the hall now: Ezatollah Entezami, Ali Nasirian, Jamshid Mashayekhi, Mohammad-Ali Keshavarz and Davud Rashidi”.

In the political/action/trailer film, Parastui’s role is that of a bodyguard for a high-ranking official in Iran who has doubts about his credentials.
‘The Sound and the Fury’ by Houman Seyyedi won the jury’s special prize as well as the best cinematography award for Peyman Shadman.
Shabnam Moghadami, 43, was awarded the Simorgh for the best supporting actress for movies ‘Zapas’ and ‘Breath’.

‘Breath’ by Narges Abyar also received the award for the film with a ‘National View’.

The best score award went to Mohammadreza Aligholi for movies ‘Mina’s Possibility’ and ‘The Daughter’. The best sound editing award was given to ‘Lanturi’.
The best in animation, documentary and art and experience sections were also awarded.

By Financial Tribune