Iranian films comparable to Italian film style: Swiss producer

Iranian films have a lot of commonalities with those made by Italians, the director of Geneva Film Festival says.

Attending the 35th Fajr International Film Festival in the Iranian capital, Tehran, for the first time, executive and artistic director of the Geneva International Film Festival Tous Ecrans, Emmanuel Cuénod, compared and contrasted Iranian Cinema with international cinema.

Pointing out that cinema across Europe is very different, Cuénod referred to Italy as Iran’s closest cinematic counterpart.

“First, I think we have Iranian cinema but we have not something named European cinema - because the cinema of north and east and other parts of Europe is very different… But you can find some similarities between Iranian and Italian movies,” the Swiss-born native said.

He continued, “For me a lot of elements are the same: People that talk a lot in the films and many different characters are in a film and you may see many situations like dramatic and comedy all in one film.”

The 42-year-old journalist and former film producer went on to praise Iranian films, giving examples of international awards won by Iranian filmmakers.

“I know many Iranian films and short films are screened in international festivals and win prizes… For example, we screened a film last year in Geneva festival and it won the first prize. Its name was ‘Life and a Day’ and I think it has a lot of Italian elements,” he said.

The 35th Fajr International Film Festival is hosting some 177 filmmakers, directors, and producers, representing 92 Iranian and international film companies and distribution networks

This year’s event takes place in Tehran from April 21-28.

AI/AI