This award complements the vast array of honors the film has received for its writer/director Asghar Farhadi, who received the Academy Award from actress Sandra Bullock at the Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood, California.
“At this time, many Iranians all over the world are watching us and I imagine them to be very happy,” Farhadi said in his acceptance speech.
“I proudly offer this award to the people of my country, the people who respect all cultures and civilizations,” he added.
The director of the Iran Cinema Organization congratulated Farhadi for winning the award in a message published by several Persian news outlets on Monday.
This award is another sign that a new season in Iranian cinema is beginning, Javad Shamaqdari said.
“The American judgment bowed before the Iranian culture and Oscar voters showed a different reaction to the Zionist lobby, which is escalating war,” he added.
A board of nine cineastes, which is selected by the Farabi Cinematic Foundation, an affiliate to the Ministry of Culture an Islamic Guidance, picks the Iranian submission to the Academy Awards annually.
“A Separation” tells the story of a middle-class urban couple that is planning to divorce.
The film scooped up awards in February 2011 at the Fajr International Film Festival, which is Iran’s most important cinematic event.
Premiered in Iran with the title “Nader and Simin, a Separation”, the film won Crystal Simorghs in five categories at the Fajr festival, including the best director and best screenwriter awards. It also won the Crystal Simorgh as the audience favorite at the event.
The film repeated its success at the 2011 Berlinale, where Farhadi received the Golden Bear for the best film and its cast ensemble received the best actor and actress Silver Bears.
The film also brought Farhadi and his colleagues many major and minor awards at other international events.
“A Separation” became the talk of the town in every Iranian city after it was crowned the best foreign film at the Golden Globe Awards in Los Angeles in January 2012.
Iranian cinema fans are proud of the fact that the film has received international acclaim.
The film also received a nomination for the original screenplay Oscar at the 84th Academy Awards.
In his acceptance speech during the Golden Globe Awards ceremony, Farhadi said Iranians are “truly a peace-loving people.”
Photo: “A Separation” writer/director Asghar Farhadi holds up the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film at the 84th Academy Awards in Hollywood on February 26, 2012. (Xinhua photo)
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