The Cultural Center of the Philippines, the Cultural Section, the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran-Manila, and the UP Film Institute, in celebration of the 60th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between Iran and the Philippines, presents the 2024 Iranian Film Festival (IFF 2024) this coming February 6, 2024 at the Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez (CCP Black Box Theater) and UPFI Film Center from Feb 7-9, 2024. This event is free and open to the public.
The IFF 2024 will be showcasing films from Iran to cater Filipino audiences and foster more understanding to strengthen the Iran-Philippines diplomatic relationship. The film lineup includes The Survivor (Almoutabaki) by Seifollah Dad; The Other One’s Dad (Pedar-e aan digari) by Yadollah Samadi; Gholamreza Takhti by Bahram Tavakoli; Wild Jonquils (Nastaran-Ha-Ye Vahshi) by Rahbar Ghanbari; Bodyguard (Badigard) by Ebrahim Hatamikia; Romanticism of Emad & Tooba (Romantism-e Emad va Tooba) by Kaveh Sabbaghzade; and Villa Dwellers (Vilaieha) by Monir Gheidi.
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Opening on February 6 at the Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez, the IFF 2024 will premiere Seifollah Dad’s The Survivor. This 1995 epic historical drama tackles the story of a Palestinian doctor who lives with his wife and Farahan, his son in Haifa, while facing the Israeli occupation. The Survivor won a special jury prize at the 14th Fajr Film Festival in Tehran and an award for best screenplay at the Non-Aligned Movement Film Festival in Pyonyang.
On February 7, Kaveh Sabbaghzade’s Romanticism of Emad & Tooba and Ebrahim Hatamikia’s Bodyguard will run at the UPFI Film Center. Sabbaghzade’s romantic comedy centers on Emad and Tooba’s destiny as the two meet for the first time and realize love is a skill, not just an enthusiasm, beauty or an itching sensation. The film was selected to screen at the 2022 Moscow International Film Festival (MIFF) in Russia.
Bodyguard, by critically-acclaimed Iranian war cinema director Ebrahim Hatamikia, is an action thriller about a government bodyguard who protects a politician from a suicide bomber, and then begins to question his dedication to his job. Bodyguard first premiered at the 34th Fajr International Film Festival and won best director and best art direction at the 2nd Vienna Independent Film Festival.
Yadollah Samadi’s The Other One’s Dad and Monir Gheidi’s Villa Dwellers take center stage on February 8 at the UPFI Film Center. A family drama film, Samadi’s The Other One’s Dad is set in 1990s Tehran and tells the story of a 6-year-old boy named Shahab who is teased by everyone (save for his mother) for his inability to talk. He then runs away from home and an elderly couple takes him in. The film won best script at the 10th International India Children Film Festival.
Set in 1986, the war film Villa Dwellers by Monir Gheidi is about Iranian army leaders’ families. Aziz, a 50-year-old woman, settles in the village complex together with her grandchildren. Tension arises when Elyas, a driver, brings bad news for them about their family. Villa Dwellers was a nominee for International Feature Film Competition at the 2020 NNW Film Festival and Best Screenplay for the 2017 Fajr Film Festival.
Rahbar Ghanbari’s Wild Jonquils and Bahram Tavakoli’s Gholamreza Takhti will close the IFF on February 9 at the UPFI Film Center. A family drama by Rahbar Ghanbari, Wild Jonquils features a teacher convincing parents from his neighboring villages, heights, and forests to get their children educated after his school receives a warrant from the Ministry of Education, stating that if the required capacity is not fulfilled, the school should shut down. This film is part of the NETPAC Section in the 2019 Asian Film Festival Barcelona.
In Bahram Tavakoli’s biographical drama film Gholamreza Takhti, he tackles the life of Iranian world wrestling Olympic champion Gholamreza Takhti from his childhood till adulthood, his matches and finally his death. It won Best Cinematography and Best Production Design, and was nominated for 8 other awards including Best Film at the 37th Fajr Film Festival, which is the Iranian equivalent of the American Academy Awards.
Championing the best of both local and international filmmaking, the CCP through the different programs under its Film, Broadcast and New Media Division (CCP FBNMD), continue to showcase the limitless variety of stories found in world cinema.
With the launching of the 2024 IFF, the CCP, the Cultural Section, the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran-Manila, and the UP Film Institute hope to bring together more creative minds, visionary storytellers, and industry enthusiasts especially in appreciation of Iranian cinema.
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