Reza Mirkarimi joins Tokyo International Film Festival

Iranian director Reza Mirkarimi has joined the jury panel of the 30th edition of the Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) in Japan.

The festival organizers recently announced that the Iranian director will judge at the Japanese event in the jury presided by Hollywood actor and director Tommy Lee Jones.

The other members of the 30th TIFF are French director Martin Provost, Chinese actress and director Zhao Wei, and Japanese actor Masatoshi Nagase.

Born in 1966, Mirkarimi graduated in Graphic Arts from Tehran University’s Faculty of Fine Arts.

He began his career in 1987 with a 16mm short film named ‘For Him’ followed by another 16mm production ‘A Rainy Day’ and a 35mm ‘A Rooster’.

He has also made television series such as ‘The Adventures of Mrs. Aziz’ and ‘Hemmat School Kids’ (1996-1997).

His first feature film ‘The Child and the Soldier’ (1999) received several domestic and international awards, including a Silver Balloon Award from the Nantes Three Continents Festival (2000), a Golden Shoe from the Children and Teenagers Festival in Zelin (2001) and a Golden Butterfly from the Children and Teenagers Film Festival in Isfahan (1999).

‘Under the Moonlight’ (2000) won him a Fajr Film Festival Crystal Simorgh (2000), the Cannes Festival Critics Award for the Best Film (2001) and Special Jury Prize from the Tokyo Film Festival for Best Director (2001).

Mirkarimi’s third feature film, ‘Here a Shining Light’ (2002) which addresses religious and social issues received Crystal Simorghs for Best Director, Best Cinematography and the Best Actor in a Leading Role in 2002.

‘So Close, So Far’ (2004) was Mirkarimi’s fourth feature film that won Crystal Simorghs for the Best Picture and Best Cinematographer and was chosen to represent Iran at the annual Academy Awards.

‘As Simple as That’ (2007) received Crystal Simorghs for Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Picture and Best Actress in a Leading Role. The movie also received a Golden St. George at the Moscow International Film Festival (2008) and received the award for Best Actor in a Leading Role at the Sofia International Film Festival (2008).

‘A Cube of Sugar’ (2010), ‘Today’ (2013), and ‘Daughter’ (2015) are his latest movies.

Mirkarimi’s ‘Daughter’ (2015) was nominated for the Best Film and the Best Director awards at the 34th edition of Fajr Film Festival.

In addition to directing he has some experience in writing, producing and editing.

‘Life without Life’ by Kaveh Moeinfar and ‘The Home’ by Asghar Yousefinejad will represent Iran at the 30th TIFF.

Established in 1985, the TIFF would be held biennially until 1991 and annually eversince.

Along with the Shanghai International Film Festival, TIFF is one of Asia's most important competitive film festivals, and the only Japanese festival accredited by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations based in Paris.

The 30th edition of the Japanese event is slated to be held from October 25 to November 3, 2017.

 MG/MF