Wednesday September 20, 2023 11:23608

In loving memory: A portrait of late Iranian director Seifollah Daad

Let's delve into the life and work of a remarkable filmmaker named Seifollah Daad.

Seifollah Daad (1955-2009), a cinematic visionary whose talents extended far beyond the director's chair, left a profound mark on Iranian cinema.

Daad graduated from Shiraz University in sociology in 1972. In the early 1960s, he was part of the Script Review Council of IRIB and later joined the Farabi Cinematic Foundation.

During the early 1970s, Daad served as the chairman of the board of directors of the House of Cinema for two years. From 1997 to 2000, he worked as the cinematic deputy of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance.

Seifollah Daad wasn't just a director in his career; he also edited various films, including ‘Under the Rain’, ‘Kani Manga’, and 'The Survivor’, which was screened by iFilm English TV. His film ‘Kani-Manga' even won the Crystal Simorgh award for Best Film at the Fajr Film Festival.

‘The Survivor’, created in 1994, stands out as one of his most influential works. It delves into the forced occupation of Palestine by Zionists in 1948 and is considered a significant film in the Arab-Israeli conflict, directed by an Iranian filmmaker.

‘The Survivor’ was filmed in Syria, with Arabic-speaking actors, mostly from Syria. The screenplay for 'The Survivor' was adapted from a story by Palestinian writer Ghassan Kanafani titled 'Return to Haifa’, which deals with the establishment of Israel and its rule over the city of Haifa.

Daad also collaborated as an editor on films like ‘Marsh in the Fire’, ‘Devil’, ‘In the Slaughterhouse of Love’ and ‘Children of Divorce’, working alongside filmmaker Ebrahim Hatamikia as an executive producer.

His final film editing project was 'Son of Dawn’, directed by Behrouz Afkhami. He had plans for a three-part film titled ‘Tehran in Search of Beauty’ but only the initial stages were completed before his passing.

Seifollah Daad passed away on August 26, 2009, in Tehran's Mehr Hospital due to cancer.

Some of Daad's roles and positions included:

- Being a member of the Script Review Council of the Film and TV Group of Channel One until 1983.

- Serving as a member of the Cultural Section of the Farabi Cinematic Foundation and the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance.

- Being one of the founders of the Sina Film Organization.

- Chairing the Board of Directors of the House of Cinema from 1995 to 1997.

- Serving as the Cinematic Deputy of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance from 1997 to 2000.

Here's a summarized list of his work:

- Director: ‘The Survivor’ (1973), ‘Kani Manga’ (1966), ‘Under the Rain’ (1963)

- Director's Advisor: ‘Marsh in the Fire’ (1970)

- Writer: ‘The Survivor’ (1973), ‘Kani Manga’ (1966), ‘The Knot’ (1964), ‘Under the Rain’ (1963)

- Producer: ‘Survivor’ (1973), ‘The Spouse’ (1972)

- Project Executive: ‘From Karkheh to Rhein’ (1971)

- Editing: ‘The Survivor’ (1973), ‘Operation Kirkuk’ (1970), ‘Marsh in the Fire’ (1970), ‘Devil’ (1969), ‘In the Slaughterhouse of Love’ (1969), ‘Children of Divorce’ (1968)

Awards:

- Crystal Simorgh: Special Jury Award at the Fajr Film Festival for the film ‘The Survivor’ (1974)

- Golden Plate: Special Jury Award at the Fajr Film Festival for the film ‘Kani Manga’ (1966)

These activities highlight Daad's significant contributions to Iranian cinema and his involvement in various cinematic organizations. May he find eternal peace and serenity, and may his legacy continue to inspire generations to come.

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