Iran-Korea doc attending Turkish fest

Iran-South Korea joint documentary production ‘The Little Plant’ has been screening at the International Migration Film Festival of Gaziantep in Turkey.

Made by Komeil Soheili, the 18-minute documentary is currently in contention at this year’s edition of the Turkish event.

‘The Little Plant’ is a migration story which shows a little plant is looking for its parents where no other plants enjoy its company.

Once, it is in a big castle full of Yemeni immigrants and also immigrants from other countries, it must try to adapt to the new situation as the other refugees do.

In the flick, the camera shows a man who says, “I think it’s better if you go home, because no country is like home”.

When asked if he feels like home here, he responds, “No, it’s not my home here. I am from Yemen. You know? I’m far away, far away from my family and my country”.

Soheili is an acclaimed documentary filmmaker, lecturer, and producer.

His documentaries, mostly focused on social issues and the environment, have won awards at various film events.

He has also served as a jury member at the Busan Art Film Festival in South Korea.

Around 45 Turkish and international films have been screening online during the International Migration Film Festival which aims to highlight the fact that migration is globally experienced.

The fest also means to raise consciousness on the issue at hand.

The running edition of the Turkish fest has two Iranian cineastes among its jury members, one being the megastar Shahab Hosseini and the other the acclaimed director and a board member of the Oscars, Farnoush Samadi.

Amir-Hossein Hemmati’s ‘Ahoo’ is another Iranian title attending the event.

Over the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s edition of the event has been running online since June 14 and it is planned to end on June 21, 2020.

AA/MG