Iran’s ‘Mandatory’ to vie at Ojai filmfest

The 2020 Ojai Film Festival in the US has been set to screen Iranian short flick ‘Mandatory’.

Written and directed by Mohammad-Javad Khorsha, the 15-minute film will be shown at the 21st edition of the US event.

The announced slots for the movie’s screening are Friday, November 6 and Monday, November 9.

‘Mandatory’ is about a firing squad soldier who has been caught in a dilemma.

The young man has doubts about performing the execution of a prisoner after seeing the man with his family.

His uncertainty is not well-received by his commander who is on the verge of retirement.

The official website of the Ojai fest describes the Iranian short film as “anchored by superb production values and compelling performances … this short film explores the competing claims of duty, compassion and personal responsibility that inform the executioner’s moral dilemma”.

Soheil Karamyar, Soheil Qannadan, Armin Boshrouyeh, and Fatemeh Radmanesh are among the cast members of the flick.

Khoursha recently won Best Director award for his short flick at the Burien Film Festival in the US.

Besides, the film has gone on screen at a number of global events, including the ifva Awards in China and the Vancouver Island Short Film Festival in Canada.

This year’s edition of the Ojai Film Festival, which will be held online due to the pandemic, is slated for November 6-15.

AA/MG