Publish Date: 19 November 2003 - 19:37

TEHRAN, November 19 (Mehr News Agency) -- Organizers of the 3rd Baran Short Film Festival appointed the star actress of Iranian cinema Niki Karimi as its secretary, the Young Cinema House announced on Thursday.

“Social activities are a part of life and I will be very happy if I can do anything in this regard,” Said Karimi.

 

Focusing on short films directed by Iranian female young talents, the festival will be held from December 22-28 in Tehran.

 

“I was familiar with the festival from its very first round; I think contenders are able to help develop the Iranian cinema so I accept the responsibility,” said Karimi, the actress whose starring in a film usually brings it success in the box office.

 

“It is very important that more than 50 short films get a chance to be screened in a cinematic event which intends to scrutinize works by young filmmakers,” said winner of the Crystal Simorgh of the 21st Fajr International Film Festival held from Feb. 1-12, 2003, for her role in Ahamdreza Mo’tamedi’s “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.”

 

She started her movie career with Jamshid Heidari’s “Temptation” in 1989. One year later she appeared in “Bride” directed by Behrouz Afkhami. The flick brought reputation for both the actress and the director.

 

Referring to the small number of female filmmakers in Iran’s documentary and professional cinema, Karimi added, “A total of 400 films sent to the festival have been directed by females – an unprecedented event in the world; but female filmmakers usually remain at this level. This results in small contribution of professional female filmmakers in Iran’s cinema industry.”

 

At the same time she said that she did not believe in male-female classification in the cinema industry.

 

MMS/SRM

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MNA