LOS ANGELES
Iranian Cinema at UCLA
UCLA Film & Television Archive is pleased to once again explore the diverse currents of Iranian cinema with its annual series highlighting recent and classic films from Iran and the Iranian diaspora.
In the wake of Asghar Farhadi’s Best Foreign Language Film Oscar win for A Separation in 2011, the depth and breadth of Iranian cinema today continues to amaze even as the challenges faced by its filmmakers remain of concern.
While established masters continue to make their unique voices heard, including writer-director Rakhshan Banietemad, whose award-winning Tales opens this year’s series, newer filmmakers continue to captivate. Farhadi’s influence can be felt in a number of outstanding, tightly-wound contemporary dramas by emerging directors (Melbourne, I’m Not Angry), while others are charting radically different paths visually and narratively (Fish & Cat, 316).
It’s a heady mix that makes this a particularly fascinating moment to be surveying the landscape of this always invigorating national cinema. As in recent years, it is anticipated that some filmmakers will appear in person to discuss their work. (from the UCLA website)
Schedule:
What’s the Time in Your World: May 6, 2015 – 7:30 pm
Red Rose: May 8, 2015 – 7:30 pm
316: May 10, 2015 – 7:00 pm
Melbourne: May 15, 2015 – 7:30 pm
Tales: May 16, 2015 – 3:00 pm
Still Life / Mohsen Badie: Artisan of Cinema: May 16, 2015 – 7:30 pm
Iranian Cinema at UCLA going on until May 14, 2014 at Billy Wilder Theater.
Program generously funded by Farhang Foundation. Special thanks to Mark Amin, Alireza Ardekani, Ahmad Gramian, Sanam Sahir—Farhang Foundation.
NEW YORK
Iranian Artist Makes History At Guggenheim
Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian is the first Iranian artist to have a solo exhibition at the Guggenheim Museum.
In the early 1950s, Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian would dream about one day showing her artwork the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum. Farmanfarmaian, now 92, is a renowned Iranian visual artist known for her geometric style and mirror sculptures. Last week, she became the first Iranian artist to have her work featured in a solo exhibition at the Guggenheim.
Farmanfarmaian was born in Qazvin, Iran, in 1924. Farmanfarmaian pursued art in school, studying both in Iran at the Fine Arts College at the University of Tehran, and in the United States at Cornell University and Parson’s School of Design.
Living in New York in the 1950s, she was exposed to and ultimately absorbed by the city’s thriving art scene. She and Andy Warhol bonded over their jobs as fashion illustrators at the time, became friends, and even exchanged their artwork. In 1957, Farmanfarmaian got married and returned to Iran, where she began collecting and showing local folk art.
Infinite Possibility: Mirror Works and Drawings 1974–2014 runs until June 3.
SEATTLE
Iranian Films at Seattle’s True Independent Film Festival
Seattle’s True Independent Film Festival (aka STIFF) put out the call and each year find more and more filmmakers that are making True Independent Films. Two films featured in this festival this year were created by Iranian filmmakers, One-Nil (1-0) and Killswitch.
Saman Hosseinpuor’s short One-Nil (1-0) was screened at Jet City Theater On May 2 and Ali Akbarzadeh’s Killswitch (Kelid e Koshtar) was to be screened at Lucid Lounge on Friday May 8.
Killswitch (Kelid e Koshtar) is an award winning documentary film about the battle to control the Internet. The movie frames the story of two young hacktivists, Aaron Swartz & Edward Snowden, who symbolize the disruptive and dynamic nature of the Internet. Killswitch is a collaboration between director Ali Akbarzadeh, producer Jeffrey Horn, writer Chris Dollar and Akorn Entertainment.
Iranian one-minute film One-Nil (1-0) narrates the story of a boy who gets so excited watching soccer that he forgets he is in the middle of a haircut.
SIFF mission is to create experiences that bring people together to discover extraordinary films from around the world.