Swedish High Coast picks Iranian feature ‘Paradise’

The 3rd edition of the High Coast International Film Festival in Sweden has awarded Iranian feature ‘Paradise’.

The Iran-Germany joint production received the Best Feature Film award at the Swedish event.

Directed by Ali Atshani, ‘Paradise’ narrates the story of two seminary students who wish to attend an academic seminar on religions in Germany. Their teacher, however, doesn't give them the permission to do so.

The two young men convince the teacher to even go with them, though. Now the three are on a mission to show the true face of Islam to the world and draw a line between the real Islam and the fake divisions.

Mohammad-Javad Ezzati and Mehran Rajabi are two of the Iranian actors who play starring roles in the film. Some German actors, including Olivia Burkhart, have also appeared in the 2015 movie.

‘Paradise’ has previously won three top prizes at the Chelsea Film Festival in New York, including Best Director for Atshani, Best Actor for Ezzati and Best Supporting Actor for Rajabi. It competes at the final round of the 2nd Out Of The Can Film Festival in the UK.

Established in 2016, the High Coast International Film Festival is a two-day event in the High Coast in North of Sweden focusing on avant-garde, independent and experimental cinema.

The third edition of the Swedish festival was held on August 25-26, 2018.

MG/FM