“So Simple” scoops Fajr top trophies

Reza Mirkarimi (R) and Shadmehr Rastin share Best Screenplay Crystal Simorgh for the woman-centered drama “So Simple” at the 26th Fajr International Film Festival. Mirkarimi also won the Best Film award as producer.

(Mehr/Mohsen Sajjadi)

Directed and produced by Reza Mirkarimi, the film is about a woman called Tahereh, who is trying to provide a calm atmosphere for her husband Amir, who is to participate in an international architecture competition. 

Hengameh Qaziani, who plays Tahereh, received Best Actress Award. She had been selected from among a great number of professional and amateur actresses and ordinary people tested for the role.

The film’s screenwriters Mirkarimi and Sadmehr Rastin shared the Best Screenplay Award.

The original screenplay, which narrated a basic story, was authored by Mirkarimi. He revised and altered the screenplay after handing it over to eight female screenwriters to find out their views on the film’s leading character. However, the final script was penned by a man -- Rastin.

Organizers of the festival gave the Best Director Award to Majid Majidi for “The Song of Sparrows”, a bittersweet parable about the struggles of a rural family living outside Tehran. The prize was received by Majidi’s daughter due to his current absence from Iran.

“The Song of Sparrows” is competing at the Berlin International Film Festival and Oscar-nominated director Majidi along with Reza Naji, the film’s leading actor, are currently in Germany.

The film also won the Crystal Simorgh in three other categories.

This year’s Special Jury Prize was given to Mohammad-Ali Ahangar for making “Child of the Earth” depicting a woman searching for her husband who went missing in the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war.  

Directed by Kamal Tabrizi, the comedy “It’s Always a Matter of a Woman” was selected as the Audience Favorite Film.

Following is a list of winners:

Best Film: “So Simple” produced by Reza Mirkarimi.

Best Director: Majid Majidi for “The Song of Sparrows”.

Best Screenplay: Reza Mirkarimi and Shadmehr Rastin for “So Simple”.

Best Actor: Amin Hayaii (“The Night”).

Best Actress: Hengameh Qaziani (“So Simple”).

Best Supporting Actor: Mohsen Tanabandeh (“A Testimonial for God”).

Best Supporting Actress: Mahtab Nasirpur (“Child of the Earth”).

Best Technical and Artistic Achievement: cameraman Alireza Zarrindast

Best Editor: Hassan Hassandust (“The Song of Sparrows”).

Best Cinematographer: Hossein Jafarian (“The Wall”).

Best Composer: Hossein Alizadeh (“The Song of Sparrows”).

Best Makeup Artist: Saeid Malekan (“The Song of Sparrows”).

Best Sound Effects: Iraj Shahzadi (“The Green Fire”).

Best Costume and Stage Designer: Jila Mehrjuii and Sholeh Navvab Tehrani (“The Green Fire”).

Best Special Effects: Hossein Talabeigi (“The Flags of Kaveh Fortress”).

Best First Film Director: Seyyed Ruhollah Hejazi (“Amid the Clouds”).

Best Documentary: “Tinar” directed by Mehdi Moniri.

Best Short Documentary: “The Sad Song of the Mountain” directed by Hamed Khosravi.

Best Short Film: “Boomerang” directed by Dariush Gharibzadeh.

MMS/MA

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MNA