36th Fajr to host Oscar-winner composer

The 36th edition of the Fajr International Film Festival Has set to host the Italian Oscar-winner composer Nicola Piovani as a special guest.

He also will perform a selection of pieces previously made for a number of feature films during a concert at the Tehran’s Vahdat Hall on April 25.

Born in 1946, Piovani is an Italian light-classical musician, theater and film score composer, and winner of the 1998 Best Original Score Oscar for the Roberto Benigni film 'Life Is Beautiful'.

After high school, Piovani enrolled at the Sapienza University of Rome, receiving his degree in piano from the Verdi Conservatory in Milan in 1967, and later studied orchestration under the Greek composer Manos Hadjidakis.

Among his more popular works is the score for the Federico Fellini film 'Intervista', his second of three collaborations with the famous director, the others being 'Ginger and Fred' and 'The Voice of the Moon'.

In 2000 his Academy Award-winning score for 'Life Is Beautiful' was further nominated for a Grammy Award in the Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media category.

In light of his recent work with French directors, notably Danièle Thompson, Philippe Lioret, and Éric-Emmanuel Schmitt, the French Minister of Culture gave him the title of Chevalier (Knight) of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres on 21 May 2008 at the Cannes Film Festival.

So far, Piovani has made more than 130 film scores.

Established in 1982, the Fajr International Film Festival celebrates cultural exchange, displays creative achievements of highly acclaimed cineastes and pays tribute to local and international films.

Since its establishment, the Fajr International Film Festival has played a vital role in the development of Iranian Cinema.

Supervised by Iran’s Ministry of Culture, the festival hosts veteran directors and new filmmakers from Iran and across the world every year.

Directed by Reza Mirkarimi, the 36th edition of the festival is slated for April 19-27, 2018, in the Iranian capital city of Tehran.

MG/MMF