Iranian Film Festival New York 2024

Thursday, January 25 - Tuesday, January 30, 2024

We are thrilled to announce the winners of the 2nd Iranian Film Festival New York;

A huge congratulations to all the talented individuals who made this festival an unforgettable celebration of creativity and artistry.

The winners are:

•Best Film: “Empty Nets” Directed by Behrooz Karamizade Produced by Eva Kemme, Ansgar Frerich, Uschi Feldges & Majid Barzegar.

•Special Jury Award: “Beyond the Wall” Directed by Vahid Jalilvand, Produced by Ali Jalilvand.

•Artistic or Technical Achievement Award: “A Childless Village” Directed by Reza Jamali, Produced by Salman Abbasi.

•Best Shortfilm: “Nietzschean Suicide” Directed & Produced by Payam Kurdistani

•Audience Award: Shared between “Subtraction” Directed by Mani Haghighi, Produced by Majid Motalebi & “Beyond the wall” Directed by Vahid Jalilvand, Produced by Ali Jalilvand.

The Jury for this year included:

Gelareh Kiazand, Sierra Urich, Nariman Hamed & Marissa Velez.

The Jury Citation Quote:

“This past week, as members of the Jury, we have been profoundly honored to delve into Iran’s cinematic storytelling. The films presented a diverse array of themes and emotions, mirroring a collective shift in Iran’s societal sentiment. This emotional journey through laughter, tears, shock, anger, despair, and inspiration deeply resonated with us, reflecting Iran’s complex realities. These films not only showcased artistic mastery and technical excellence in cinematography and editing but also eloquently portrayed the resilience of individuals facing financial, cultural, and governmental challenges, particularly among women. The narratives highlighted societal struggles and the aspirations of a class striving for a better life, while also depicting the transformation of those in power. This cinematic experience has been a window into the heart of Iran, transcending borders and connecting deeply with our shared human spirit.”

Films in Feature Competition:

Beyond The Wall

Subtraction

Roxana

Empty Nets

The Locust

A Childless Village

The Iranian Film Festival New York returns to IFC Center with an impressive new edition showcasing 12 feature films, including four making their US debuts and six New York premieres, from one of the world’s most vital and important national cinemas.

The festival opens Thursday, January 25 with the US premiere of the provocative Venice Film Festival competition title BEYOND THE WALL, the third film from award-winning director Vahid Jalilvand.

The 2024 edition of IrFFNY includes a special “Spotlight on Mani Haghighi,” with the director in person to screen three of his features. A filmmaker whose work has been acclaimed at Berlin, Toronto, Tribeca and other festivals around the globe, Haghighi’s 2018 feature Pig was a highlight of the inaugural Iranian Film Festival New York and went on to do a theatrical run at IFC Center in 2019. This year, Haghighi will present the NY premiere of his latest, SUBTRACTION and also appear in person to screen and discuss two of his earlier films, A DRAGON ARRIVES! (Berlinale 2016, competition) in its New York premiere, and MODEST RECEPTION (2012).

Other festival films making their US premieres are Behrooz Karamizade’s EMPTY NETS (Special Jury Prize, Karlovy Vary), Karim Lakzadeh’s Karlovy Vary alumnus DARK MATTER, and Seifollah Samadian’s documentary KIAROSTAMI AT WORK, a look at the legendary master’s oeuvre.

Other highlights include the New York premieres of Reza Mirkarimi’s THE NIGHT GUARDIAN, Iran’s official selection for the 2024 Academy Awards; Parviz Shabazi’s ROXANA, winner of the Best Actor Award at the Tokyo International Film Festival; Faezeh Azizkhani’s THE LOCUST, which premiered at SXSW; Reza Jamali’s A CHILDLESS VILLAGE, winner of the Best Screenplay Award at the Red Sea International Film Festival; and a program of acclaimed and award-winning shorts.

The festival closes Tuesday, January 30 with a special tribute to the trailblazing filmmaker Dariush Mehrjui, whose work profoundly influenced Iranian cinema, and who was murdered in October 2023. At 4:30, filmmaker Bahman Maghsoudlou presents his documentary DARIUS MEHRJUI: MAKING OF THE COW, with a Q&A to follow. And at 7:00, the festival screens a restored version of THE COW, followed at 9:00 by an excerpt from Mani Haghighi’s 2016 documentary Mehrjui: The Forty Year Report and an in-depth discussion of Mehrjui’s career and legacy between Haghighi and critic Godfrey Cheshire.

Iranian Film Festival New York is organized by Armin Miladi of Daricheh Cinema and critic Godfrey Cheshire.

Click here for a flyer of the festival schedule.

For more information about the festival visit festival website: www.irfilmfestny.com