Iran’s ‘World War III’ competing at Istanbul filmfest in Turkey

The International Istanbul Film Festival (iKSV) in Turkey has been playing host to acclaimed Iranian feature film ‘World War III’.

Directed and produced by Hooman Seyyedi, the film is on screen at the International Competition program of the Turkish event’s 42nd edition.

 “World War III” depicts Shakib, a homeless day laborer who never got over the loss of his wife and son in an earthquake years ago.

He works in a place where a movie on the World War is being filmed, and when one of the actors collapses, Shakib has been chosen as his stand-in.

The man is allowed to stay in the actor’s fake mansion, but on condition that he doesn’t receive any visitors, but he makes a decision that endangers his fate.

The film is co-written by Seyyedi himself, Arian Vazir-Daftari, and Azad Jafarian.

The cast members of the film include Mohsen Tanabandeh, Neda Jebreeli, Mahsa Hejazi, and Navid Nosrati.

The flick is the recipient of the Orizzonti Award for Best Film at the 79th Venice International Film Festival in Italy.

Mohsen Tanabandeh also received the award for best actor at the major international event for his portrayal of Shakib.

The film has already been screened at the 35th Tokyo International Film Festival where it won the second-place special jury prize of the event.

Two of the main awards of the 8th Asian World Film Festival- Los Angeles (AWFF) in the US are also among the accolades grabbed by the flick.

The 20th Chennai International Film Festival (CIFF) in India, the 34th Palm Springs Film Festival in the US, the 4th Hainan Island Int’l Film Festival (HIIFF) in China and the 26th Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (POFF) in Estonia also hosted ‘World War III’.   

Recently, the flick grabbed a FIPRESCI Prize from the 34th Palm Springs International Film Festival (PSIFF) in the US.

The Istanbul Film Festival is organized by the non-profit cultural institution Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (IKSV).

The festival aims to promote and support artistic and cultural productions.

This year's edition of the event has been underway since April 7 and it is set to wrap up on April 18.

AA/FM