Iranian filmmaker to join Armenian jury

Iranian filmmaker Reza Mirkarimi has been set to join the jury of the 16th edition of the Golden Apricot Yerevan International Film Festival (GAIFF) in Armenia.

The jury also includes Russian screenwriter Aleksandr Mindadze, Swiss director Nicolas Wadimoff, American executive director of the Tribeca Film Festival Amy Hobby, British producer Elizabeth Karlsen, Italian film critic Paolo Bertolin and French actress Nino Kirtadze.

The GAIFF is an annual film festival held in Yerevan, Armenia. It was founded in 2004 with the co-operation of the Golden Apricot Fund for Cinema Development, the Armenian Association of Film Critics and Cinema Journalists.

The objectives of the GAIFF are to present new works by the film directors and producers in Armenia and foreign cinematographers of Armenian descent and to promote creativity and originality in the area of cinema and video art.

The 16th GAIFF will be held on July 7-14, 2019.

Born in 1966, Mirkarimi graduated in Graphic Arts from Tehran University’s College of Fine Arts.

He began his career in 1987 with a 16mm short film named ‘For Him’ followed by another 16mm production ‘A Rainy Day’ and a 35mm ‘A Rooster’.

He has also made television series such as ‘The Adventures of Mrs. Aziz’ and ‘Hemmat School Kids’.

His first feature film ‘The Child and the Soldier’ received several domestic and international awards, including a Silver Balloon Award from the Nantes Three Continents Festival, a Golden Shoe from the Children and Teenagers Festival in Zelin, and a Golden Butterfly from the Children and Teenagers Film Festival in Isfahan.

‘Under the Moonlight’ won him a Fajr Film Festival Crystal Simorgh, the Cannes Festival Critics Award for the Best Film, and Special Jury Prize from the Tokyo Film Festival for Best Director.

Mirkarimi’s third feature film, ‘Here a Shining Light’ which addresses religious and social issues received Crystal Simorghs for Best Director, Best Cinematography and the Best Actor in a Leading Role in 2002.

‘So Close, So Far’ was Mirkarimi’s fourth feature film that won Crystal Simorghs for the Best Picture and Best Cinematographer and was chosen to represent Iran at the annual Academy Awards.

‘As Simple as That’ received Crystal Simorghs for Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Picture and Best Actress in a Leading Role. The movie also received a Golden St. George at the Moscow International Film Festival and received the award for Best Actor in a Leading Role at the Sofia International Film Festival.

‘A Cube of Sugar’, ‘Today’, and ‘Daughter’ are among his latest movies.

Mirkarimi’s ‘Daughter’ was nominated for the Best Film and the Best Director awards at the 34th edition of Fajr Film Festival.

In addition to directing he has some experience in writing, producing and editing.

MG/AG