Iranian director Narges Abyar serves on Australian jury panel

Iranian director Narges Abyar has served on the international jury at the 7th edition of the Women Media Arts and Film Festival (WMAFF) in Australia.

The jury at this edition of the fest, which ran until May 7, also comprises Australian actress and writer Kate Fitzpatrick and the New Zealand-born Australian-based filmmaker Margot Nash.

The WMAFF is a new screen culture and audience development initiative by Cinewest in partnership with Sydney Olympic Park Authority.

Three Iranian films, ‘Kal Fatemeh’ by Mehdi Zamanpour-Kiasari, ‘Lady of the City’ by Maryam Bahrololoumi, and ‘The Sun of that Moon’ by Setareh Eskandari, took part in different sections of the festival.

Abyar is director of some acclaimed movies, including ‘Track 143’, ‘Breath’ and ‘When the Moon Was Full’.

She served on several jury panels at different events, including the 18th Kazan International Muslim Film Festival in Russia, the 25th Religion Today Film Festival in Italy, and the 8th Mercy to the Universe International Short Film Festival in Turkey.

She has been honored at several international festivals and cultural centers.

Earlier in March, she was honored with the Director Achievement Award at the International Women Filmmakers Festival 2022 in Izmir, Turkey.

In 2020, she received the HUM Women Leaders Award at the Governor’s House in the Pakistani city of Karachi.

Her 2019 drama ‘When the Moon Was Full’ received the audience award at the 23rd Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival in Estonia.

MG/AG