Fajr Film Festival winners announced
‘Call Me Ziba’ triumphs
The 43rd Fajr Film Festival, a major event in Iran’s cinematic calendar, concluded with a memorable ceremony and awarding the winners at Tehran’s Milad Tower on Monday.
The festival, which began on January 31, celebrated the finest in Iranian film, drawing attention to both emerging talent and established icons of the industry, IRNA reported. The coveted Crystal Simorgh for Best Film was awarded to ‘Call Me Ziba’, directed by Rasoul Sadr Ameli and produced by Maziar Hashemi.
The drama about identity and self-discovery captivated audiences and stood out amidst strong competition. “We are thrilled with this recognition, which reflects the hard work and dedication of the entire team,” Sadr Ameli commented following the win.
As anticipated, ‘Prophet Moses’, directed by Ebrahim Hatamikia, dominated the festival with an impressive five Crystal Simorgh awards. These included Best Supporting Actor, Costume Design, Art Direction, Makeup, and Visual Effects, underscoring the film’s multifaceted excellence. In addition to the Best Film award, ‘Prophet Moses’ emerged as a clear frontrunner in the technical categories.
Meanwhile, ‘People’s Child’ by Mahmoud Karimi and ‘North from Southwest’ by Hamid Zargarnejad were also among the standout films. Both productions secured three awards each. ‘People’s Child’ took home honours for Best New Director, Best Screenplay, and Best Editing, while ‘North from Southwest’ triumphed in the categories of Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Cinematography. The latter film’s cinematographer, Hamid Ghaffari, was especially lauded for his breathtaking visuals.
The Best First Film Award went to Saeed Khani, producer of ‘Raha,’ a film that explores the complexities of contemporary Iranian society. In the short film category, ‘Kuti,’ directed by Soheila Pourmohammadi, received the Honorary Diploma for Literary Adaptation, while Nadereh Sadat Serki’s ‘Claimaint’ won the Crystal Simorgh for Best Short Film.
The documentary section was equally competitive, with Nima Mahdian’s ‘A Handful of Dust’ clinching Best Director, and Jafar Sadeghi’s ‘The Apprentice’ named Best Documentary Film. ‘Dolphin Boy 2,’ directed by Mohammad Amin Hamedani and Mohammad Kheirandish, triumphed as the Best Animation.
While the festival’s awards were the highlight, the event was not without its controversies. A considerable amount of attention was given to the festival’s poster, which featured a design inspired by Rogheyeh Chehreh-Azad’s portrayal in ‘Mother’ by Ali Hatami. The poster faced widespread criticism, leading the festival organisers to promise a redesign after acknowledging the feedback.
Furthermore, the festival saw the return of prominent filmmakers such as Ebrahim Hatamikia and Rasoul Sadr Ameli, who brought their new works to the competition. The judging panel included familiar names such as director Kamal Tabrizi, critic Reza Dorostkar, and filmmaker Alireza Raeisian. However, the panel faced some disruption when actor Bahram Radan withdrew from his judging duties midway through the festival, leaving the panel to proceed with six members.