Iranian thriller wins Special Jury Prize in North Macedonia
Iranian director Mohsen Bahari's debut feature ‘The Gambler’ captured the Special Jury Prize at the fifth Across the Lake International Film Festival in North Macedonia, organizers announced after the festival wrapped up on July 15.
The event, held across Dojran, Strumica and Gevgelija, spotlights Balkan and Mediterranean cinema and placed Iranian cinema in special focus this year, IRNA reported.
Marking its first international festival appearance, the social thriller drew attention with its contemporary cyber-security storyline. Bahari said the film is inspired by two real-life incidents that were dramatized for the screen, adding that its central theme follows a man who transforms over the course of a single night in an attempt to redeem a grave mistake. "War is no longer fought only with tanks and guns," he said. "Today, it can begin with a single code."
The Farabi Cinema Foundation production is also set to represent Iranian cinema in the competition section of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Film Festival in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, where it is scheduled to screen in the coming days.
Produced by Sajjad Nasrollahi, ‘The Gambler’ previously won the Best First-Time Director Crystal Simorgh at the Fajr International Film Festival and earned five additional Crystal Simorgh nominations. The film stars Kourosh Tahami, Armin Rahimian, Shabnam Ghorbani, Amir Nouroozi, Roshan Rostampour, and Emad Emami. Its plot follows the aftermath of a cyberattack on an Iranian bank, as an experienced intelligence officer races to uncover the truth and safeguard national security.