Italian fest honors Iran’s Sousan Parvar

The 8th edition of the Torino Underground Cinefest in Italy has awarded Iranian actress Sousan Parvar for her role in ‘Botox’.

The organizers announced the winners on Thursday with Parvar receiving the best actress award for her portrayal of Akram in the movie.

The Italian event’s jury statement reads “She was able to render with a powerful expressive minimalism and with surreal irony the dramatic condition of a woman, oppressed by the double weight of mental illness and of the Botox-postersocial discrimination carried out by a patriarchal and male chauvinist society.”

Directed by Kaveh Mazaheri, ‘Botox’ is about Akram and Azar, two siblings who have lied to everyone about their brother’s disappearance. They have told others that he fled to Germany and that they have no news of him.

Gradually, the lie turns into reality in Akram’s mind. She starts to count the days for her brother to come back.

In addition to Parvar, Mahdokht Molaee, Soroush Saeedi, Morteza Khanjani and Mohsen Kiani are among the cast members of the flick.

Set to compete at the Tirana International Film Festival in Albania, ‘Botox’ has previously been screened at a number of global events, including the Bucharest International Film Festival in Romania, the Burgas International Film Festival in Bulgaria, the Salento International Film Festival in Italy, the Beijing International Film Festival in China, the Amman International Film Festival – Awal Film in Jordan, the Fajr International Film Festival in Iran, where it won first-film director award, and the Torino Film Festival in Italy, where it grabbed the awards for best screenplay and best film.

Faysal Soysal’s ‘Silenced Tree’ from Turkey was selected as best film at the Torino Underground Cinefest, while Iranian editor Mostafa Kherqepoush won best editing award for the Turkish film.

Best director award went to Leandro Lara for Brazilian drama ‘Rodantes’ and Spanish drama ‘Amigo’ received the awards for best screenplay and best actor.

Italian drama ‘Angelo Bianco’ by Vincenzo Basso won the special jury prize, while ‘Dear Child’ by Luca Ammendola from Brazil was named best documentary.

‘My Planet’ by Valery Carnoy from Belgium won best short film award.

The Torino Underground Cinefest’s main goal is to be a showcase for independent films. Its mission is to ensure the visibility to the many small and big movies that are produced in the world.

The 8th edition of the Torino event was held on September 2-9, 2021.

Read more:

‘Botox’ tops at Torino Film Fest in Italy

‘Botox’ well received at Fajr Int’l filmfest

Salento Int’l filmfest to show Iranian-Canadian ‘Botox’

MG/MG