Majid Majidi gains lifetime award in India

Noted Iranian director Majid Majidi gains lifetime achievement award at the 23rd International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK).

Oscar-nominated Majidi was honored at the opening ceremony of the film event in on Friday.

The director whose latest flick ‘Beyond the Clouds’ was produced in India has made a number of acclaimed movies such as ‘Muhammad, the Messenger of God’, “Children of Heaven” and “The Color of Paradise”,

He served as the president of the jury of the official competition of the festival.

In addition, Iranian director Asghar Farhadi’s latest movie “Everybody Knows” also opened the festival.

The 23rd edition of the IFFK runs December 13.

Born in 1959 and internationally appreciated film producer, director and screenwriter, Majidi started acting in amateur theater groups when he was 14.

He graduated from the Art University in Dramatic Arts and then joined the Islamic Art and Idea Center of Islamic Development Organization.

He starred in some movies such as ‘Justification’, ‘Two Sightless Eyes’ and ‘Boycott’ in the 1980s.

After appearing in his last movie in 1989, Majidi quit acting and directed a few short films.

His first feature film ‘Badook’ in 1991 won him a Crystal Simorgh at the Fajr International Film Festival.

In 1999, ‘Children of Heaven’ was the first Iranian film nominated to receive an Academy Award. ‘Children of Heaven’ lost the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film, but it won many other international prizes.

Afterwards, he wrote and directed ‘The Color of Heaven’ and ‘Baran’ which were presented in several international film festivals and received lots of awards.

After the US invasion of Afghanistan began in 2001, Majidi produced a documentary about Afghan refugees titled ‘Barefoot to Herat’. Not long after that, his feature films ‘The Willow Tree’ and ‘The Song of Sparrows’ earned him great respect as a director and solidified his reputation.

In 2008, he was one of the five international film directors invited by the Chinese government to create a documentary short film in order to introduce Beijing in preparation for the Summer Olympics.

Among Majidi’s international awards Grand Prix des Amériques and Prize of the Ecumenical Jury - Special Mention from Montréal World Film Festival, The Best Director Award and the Best Screenplay Award from Gijón International Film Festival, Films from the South Award from Oslo Films Festival, and Douglas Sirk Award from Hamburg Film Festival for ‘Baran’ can be mentioned.

He won FIPRESCI Prize from Thessaloniki Documentary Film Festival for ‘Barefoot to Herat', as well as Special Mention from Giffoni Film Festival, Audience Award from Valenciennes International Festival of Action and Adventure Films, Grand Prize from Valenciennes International Festival of Action and Adventure Films, Lino Brocka Award from Cinemanila International Film Festival, Grand Prix des Amériques from Montréal World Film Festival, Special Jury Award from Gijón International Film Festival, and Special Prize of the Young Jury from Gijón International Film Festival for ‘The Color of Heaven’.

For ‘Children of Heaven’, he bagged Audience Award from Warsaw International Film Festival, Best Foreign Film Award from Newport International Film Festival, FIPRESCI Prize - Special Mention from Montréal World Film Festival, Grand Prix des Amériques from Montréal World Film Festival, People's Choice Award from Montréal World Film Festival, Prize of the Ecumenical Jury from Montréal World Film Festival, C.I.F.E.J. Award from Oulu International Children's Film Festival, and Lucas Award from Lucas - International Festival of Films for Children and Young People.

Golden Dolphin from Festróia - Tróia International Film Festival, Prize of the Jury from San Sebastián International Film Festival, International Jury Award - Honorable Mention from São Paulo International Film Festival, C.I.C.A.E. Award from Torino International Festival of Young Cinema, Holden Award for Best Script from Torino International Festival of Young Cinema, and Jury Special Prize from Torino International Festival of Young Cinema went to Majidi for ‘Father’.

He has also directed movie ‘Muhammad: The Messenger of God’ in 2015 and ‘Beyond the Clouds’ in 2017 which enjoy domestic and international cast and crew.

AG/AG