Canada pays tribute to Iran actress Leila Hatami

Vancouver, Canada, has hosted a ceremony in honor of Iranian celebrated actress Leila Hatami.

The ceremony took place on Monday in honor of Hatami as a celebrated actress, a Cannes Film Festival jury member, and a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science (The Oscars).

Arranged by cinema critic and Hafez Award’s jury member Amir-Houshang Hashemi, the event was tenderly attended by Iranian residents in Canada and Canadian cinema enthusiasts.

The ceremony presenter read statements from the Prime Minister British Colombia State, John Horgan, and the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture of British Colombia State, Lisa Baere, and offered a Letter of commendation in honor of Hatami’s precious achievements in cinema.

Born in 1972, Hatami is the daughter of renowned Iranian director Ali Hatami and has appeared in some of her father’s films, even as a child actress, including ‘Hezar Dastan’, ‘Kamal-ol-Molk’ and ‘The Devoted’ from 1987 to 1992.

She went to Switzerland and embarked on her studies in electrical engineering at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne. Just two years later, she shifted her field of study to French Literature. Hatami returned to Iran in 1996 when her father became ill.

Her first appearance in a leading role was in the film ‘Leila’ in 1997. She has starred in numerous movies and won many prestigious awards throughout her successful career.

Appearing in movies such as ‘Sheida’, ‘The Deserted Station’, ‘Season Salad’, ’40 Years Old’, ‘A Separation’, ‘There Are Things You Don’t Know’ and ‘The Orange Suit’ from 1999 to 2011, the actress received Crystal Simorgh nominations for Best Actress in a Leading Role at the Fajr International Film Festival.

In 2012, she was nominated for the Asian Film Award and People's Choice Award at the Asian Film Awards for her role in ‘A Separation’ and was a member of the Jury of Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (Czech Republic) in 2006.

Hatami recently received the award for best actress in a leading role for ‘Subdued’ at the 11th edition of the Iran film critics and screenwriters gala in Tehran.

MG/MMF