Iranian cinema shines at Asia Pacific Screen Awards

Iranian filmmakers Rakhshan Bani-Etemad and Mohsen Abdolvahab were presented the Best Achievement in Directing award for the addiction-themed movie “Mainline”.

Hooman Behmanesh won the Best Achievement in Cinematography award for “Those Three”.

The Jury Grand Prize of the gala was given to director Kiumars Purahmad for “Night Bus”, a drama about the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war which has been produced by Mehdi Homayunfar.

“The Jury Grand Prize to ‘Night Bus’ acknowledges the extraordinary achievements of Iran in filmmaking and the particular finesse that the writer and director, Kiumars Purahmad, and his fine ensemble cast have brought to their craft,” Jury President Shabana Azmi said in the presentation ceremony.

“Night Bus” is scheduled to premiere in Tehran movie theaters today/tomorrow.

Over 500 cineastes from the Asia Pacific region, Europe, and the United States attended the ceremony.

Following is a list of the winners in other categories:

Best Feature Film

“Secret Sunshine” directed and produced by Lee Chang-dong (South Korea)

Best Performance by an Actress Award

Jeon Do-yeon for “Secret Sunshine” (South Korea)

Best Performance by an Actor Award

Erkan Can for “Takva: A Man’s Fear of God” (Turkey)

Best Children’s Feature Film Award

“Denias, Singing on the Cloud” produced by Ari Sihasale (Indonesia)

Best Animated Feature Film

“5 Centimeters per Second” produced by Noritaka Kawaguchi (Japan)

Best Documentary Feature Film

“Beirut Diaries: Truth, Lies and Videos” produced and directed by Mai Masri (Lebanon)

Best Screenplay

“Gandhi, My Father” written by Feroz Abbas Khan (India)

MMS/HG

END

MNA