Czech tree named after Abbas Kiarostami

In tribute to Iran mega director Abbas Kiarostami, a tree is named after the filmmaker at Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in the Czech Republic.

The naming ceremony was staged on passing anniversary of the auteur July 4.

Meanwhile, the Karlovy Vary fest screened his film ‘76 Minutes and 15 Seconds’ during the event.

The tall tree lies in the middle of a park, a local media report said, quoting Kiarostami’s friend as saying that “Whenever Kiarostami traveled to the Czech Republic to take part at the festival, he would often sit under the tree and enjoyed its beauty. Actually, he loved nature,” they said.

Kiarostami, winner of the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Festival in 1997 for his film ‘Taste of Cherry’, passed away on July 4, 2016 at the age of 76.

He was also an accomplished photographer and painter. His last film was ‘Like Someone in Love’ (2012), a romantic drama set in Japan, which was nominated for a Palme d’Or at Cannes.

The late writer-director has been critically hailed as a pioneer of the Iranian New Wave.

He is mostly known as a screenwriter, film editor, art director and producer as well as a poet, photographer, painter, illustrator, and graphic designer.

2017 Karlovy Vary International Film Festival is slated for Jun 30- July 8, 2017.

AG/AG