Karlovy Vary festival awards Iranian-German ‘Empty Nets’

The 57th edition of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival KVIFF) in the Czech Republic has honored Iranian-German ‘Empty Nets’.

Directed by Iranian filmmaker Behrouz Karamizadeh, the Iran-Germany co-production won the special jury award.

The award-winning film also received a cash prize of USD 15,000.

‘Empty Nets’ tells the story of Amir and Narges, who have found genuine love in their coastal hometown near the Caspian Sea.

However, in modern Iran, it is difficult to build a future as a couple, and they have to hide their love from society.

To gain the approval of Narges' wealthy family and provide a suitable dowry, Amir requires a significant amount of money urgently.

Faced with limited options, Amir secures a job at a nearby fishery, embarking on a perilous yet profitable venture involving the illicit smuggling of black-market caviar.

Bulgaria-Germany co-production ‘Blaga’s Lessons’ by Stephan Komandarev received the festival’s Grand Prix, Crystal Globe, and the best actress award.

Iranian-British director Babak Jalali was picked as best director for ‘Fremont’. 

Herbert Nordrum from Norway received best actor award for his role in ‘The Hypnosis’ by Ernst De Geer.

This edition of the festival celebrated the new generation of independent Iranian filmmakers in a special section titled “Another Birth. Iranian Cinema, Here and Now”.

Nine films offering “an insightful testimony of the burning creativity of Iran’s artists in the face of the challenging reality” were screened in this section.

The selection included melancholic dramas, comedies, war movies, sci-fi films and movies about love, which have been made over the past four years; including ‘The Skin’ by Bahram and Bahman Ark, Mohammad-Reza Shayannejad’s ‘Trip to the Moon’, ‘Black and White River’ by Farzin Mohammadi, ‘Creation between Two Surfaces’ by Hossein Rajabian, ‘Dream’s Gate’ by Negin Ahmadi, ‘K9’ by Vahid Vakilifar, ‘Locust’ by Faezeh Azizkhani, ‘No End’ by Nader Saeevar, and ‘Zapata’ by Danesh Eghbashavi.

MG/AG