With the program '30 Years of Revolution in Iran', the Iranian Film Festival is taking a rare journey through time this year. Starting in the year 1979, when the Shah was suddenly forced to leave his Iran and was replaced by a theocratic regime. In the never-before-seen documentary 'The Newcomers' (Kianoush Ayari), one sees unique footage shot with a Video 8 camera in the late 1970s. Women wore whatever they wanted, there were protests and demonstrations in the streets, and ideas were exchanged.
With the knowledge of what has happened to Iran in the thirty years since, the film turns out to be heartbreakingly hopeful. Ayari's documentary, which was banned in Iran for 30 years, recently resurfaced unexpectedly and is being screened for the first time to a broad Dutch audience at the Iranian Film Festival.

New talent

In addition to these special gems from the archives, there is also plenty of room for new talent at the Iranian Film Festival. For this edition, the festival is once again giving debut filmmakers the opportunity to showcase their vision of Iran through short films. In a special short film competition, these will be judged by a professional jury including Kees Driessen (VN) and Floortje Smit (VK).

'Reel bad Iranians?'

And how are Iranians and Iran in general actually represented by the Western film industry? Writer and Iran expert Eefje Blankenvoort will compile a special collection of film and TV clips specifically for the Iranian Film Festival in which Iran (and Iranians) are portrayed in both stigmatizing and inspiring ways. While President Ahmadinejad regularly lashes out fiercely at Iran's poor image in Hollywood blockbusters, Eefje Blankenvoort, together with film critic Gawie Keyser (De Groene) and political scientist Peyman Jafari, will investigate the true state of the portrayal of Iran in Western media.

Furthermore, the Iranian Film Festival will welcome various guests from both home and abroad this year. For instance, directors Mehrdad Oskouei, Negin Kianfar, Marjan Alizadeh, Pejman Akbarzadeh, and Frank Scheffer will speak about their latest films, and Gijs Wanders will share his experiences in Afghanistan regarding the documentary 'Afghan Star'. The festival will be opened by the Iranian-Dutch writer Kader Abdolah.

The 4th edition of the Iranian Film Festival will take place on December 18, 19, and 20 at cinema 'De Fabriek' in Zaandam.
View the full program at www.iraansfilmfestival.nl

Location
Jan Sijbrandssteeg 12, Zaandam



How to respond / more information
You must log in to respond