Iranian Film “The Great Yawn of History” Wins Special Jury Award at Berlin International Film Festival

TEHRAN, Iran – Aliyar Rasti, a talented Iranian filmmaker, achieved a remarkable feat at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival. His debut feature film, “The Great Yawn of History,” won the prestigious Special Jury Award in the Encounters Competition Section. It shared the honor with Qiu Yang’s “Some Rain Must Fall” from China. Rasti’s film premiered at the 2024 Berlinale, marking a significant milestone in his career. “The Great Yawn of History” takes viewers on a captivating journey through the Iranian landscape. The story revolves around a man who dreams of discovering a box of … Read more

Japanese and Iranian Films Take Top Honors at International Film Festival Rotterdam

Rotterdam, Netherlands – Japanese actor and director Toshihiko Tanaka’s film “Rei” and Iranian filmmaker Oktay Baraheni’s “The Old Bachelor” emerged as the top winners at the International Film Festival Rotterdam. Tanaka’s “Rei” took home the prestigious €40,000 ($43,000) Tiger Award in the main competition, while Baraheni’s “The Old Bachelor” won the €30,000 ($32,000) VPRO Big Screen Award 2024. “Rei” tells the story of a woman in Tokyo struggling to find meaning in her life until she encounters a deaf landscape photographer living in the mountains of Hokkaido. The jury, consisting of Marco Müller, Ena Sendijarević, … Read more

Iranian Film “The Old Bachelor” Wins Prestigious Award at 53rd International Film Festival Rotterdam

Rotterdam, Netherlands – The winners of the 53rd International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) were revealed on Friday during the IFFR Award Ceremony. Among the top honorees was the Iranian film “The Old Bachelor,” written and directed by Oktay Baraheni. The 192-minute drama, which had its world premiere at the festival, was presented with the VPRO Big Screen Award. The jury praised the film for its gripping narrative that delves into themes of patriarchy, misogyny, love, violence, and tragedy. They described it as a masterclass in storytelling, highlighted by its nuanced dialogue, attention to detail, and … Read more

Japanese and Iranian Films Shine at International Film Festival Rotterdam: ‘Rei’ and ‘The Old Bachelor’ Take Top Honors

Rotterdam, Netherlands – Japanese actor and director Toshihiko Tanaka has been awarded the top prize at the International Film Festival Rotterdam for his human relationships drama, “Rei.” The film follows the story of a woman in her thirties working in Tokyo who discovers the value of her life after meeting a deaf landscape photographer in Hokkaido’s mountains. The Tiger Award, which comes with a prize of €40,000 ($43,000), was given to Tanaka’s debut film by a jury consisting of Marco Müller, Ena Sendijarević, Nadia Turincev, Billy Woodberry, and Herman Yau. In addition to “Rei,” two … Read more