Iran short ‘Goodbye Friend’ based on clergy films, photos: Director

Iranian director Benyamin Rahami says his short film ‘Goodbye Friend’ has been made based on films and photos captured by a clergy martyred in Syria.  

The director made the remarks in an interview after selection of the short in the “Our Film” section of the 7th Ammar Popular Film Festival.

‘Goodbye Friend’ is a nine-minute film which took name from last scene of the short in which a Telegram message read “Goodbye Friend,” Rahimi said.

He also added that the film is a compilation of photos and films featuring a clergy friend of his who went to Syria as a religious preacher and was martyred in the country.  

The film which won a ‘Lantern’ at the APFF has been made by application on the director’s handphone.

Rahimi said that the short was made in 12 hours, adding, the film was inspired by my melancholy due to missing the clergyman named Haj Bayat.

Ammar event also enjoys an international version (AIPFF) which aims “to raise real awareness and responsibility among the general public,” the AIPFF website read, adding the event’s mission is to create an atmosphere in which independent filmmakers and thinkers can gather together.”

Ammar International Popular Film Festival goes against promotion of “individualism and extreme enjoyment without caring about the society's troubles and other human suppression,” the event’s official website noted.

The seventh Ammar Popular Film Festival opened on December 28, 2016.

AG/AG