“Too Faraway, Too Close” scoops up Fajr Film Festival prizes

Directed and produced by Reza Mir-Karimi, the film received awards in the categories of best film, sound effects, cinematography, costume and stage design, music, and makeup.

The film is about a prominent neurologist and brain surgeon named Dr. Alem who is engrossed in his professional and personal affairs and neglects the upbringing of his son Saman. Meanwhile, Saman spends his time in the middle of the desert, gazing at that vast sky’s myriad stars. An accident forces the surgeon to put aside his successful career and cross the desert to join his son.

The film stars Masud Rayegan, Afshin Hashemi, and Elham Hamidi.

Mir-Karimi’s other credits include “The Child and the Soldier” (1999), “Under the Moonlight” (2000) and “Here, a Burning Light” (2002).

List of winners of the 23rd Fajr International Film Festival:

Best Film: “Too Faraway, Too Close” directed and produced by Reza Mir-Karimi.

Best Director: Majid Majidi (“The Weeping Willow”).

Best Screenplay: “Café Transit” written by Kambuzia Partovi.

Best Actor: Parviz Parastuii (“The Weeping Willow”).

Best Actress: Fereshteh Sadr-Orafaii (“Café Transit”).

Best Supporting Actor: Khosro Shakibaii (“Season Salad”).

Best Supporting Actress: Leyla Zare’ (“We Are All Good”).

Best Cinematography: Hamid Khozuii-Abayaneh (“Too Faraway, Too Close”).

Best Film Editing: Saeid Shahsavari (“We Are All Good”).

Best Soundtrack: Mohammadreza Aliqoli (“Too Faraway, Too Close”).

Best Sound Effects: Bahman Ardalan (“Too Faraway, Too Close”).

Best Costume and Stage Design: Amir Esbati (“Too Faraway, Too Close”).

Best Makeup: Moahammad Qowmi (“Too Faraway, Too Close”).

Best Special Effects: Najaf Fattahi for (“Somewhere to Live”).

Best Film in Art and Experience: Kianush Ayyari for (“Wake Up, Arezu”).

Audience Favorite: “The Weeping Willow” directed by Majid Majidi.

Directors Kamal Tabrizi (“A Piece of Bread”) and Mohammadreza Bozorgnia (“Somewhere to Live”) shared the Special Jury Prize. Last year’s festival ignored Tabrizi’s acclaimed comedy “The Lizard”, which is about a professional thief who escapes from prison dressed in a cleric’s robe. It seems that this year’s festival organizers intended to redress the injustice.

Tabrizi gave his award to the film’s supporting actor Esmaeil Khalaj to honor “a veteran stage and screen artist”.

Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Ahmad Masjed-Jamei, Deputy Culture Minister for Cinematic Affairs Mohammad-Mehdi Heydarian, Farabi Cinematic Foundation Director Alireza Rezadad, and a number of Iranian cineastes attended the closing ceremony of the festival.

MMS/HG

End

MNA