Lavafipur’s “Be Calm” awarded at Rotterdam festival
Ramtin Lavafipur’s “Be Calm and Count to Seven” won the VPRO Tiger Award of the International Film Festival of Rotterdam 2009.
The festival’s top prize, the VPRO Tiger Awards went to three films including Lavafipur’s movie. Some 14 first or second time feature film directors competed for these awards.
“We were extremely impressed by the artistry and vigor of the first film – the level of craftsmanship and cinematic intelligence on the one hand, and the dedication to rendering the reality of a particular way of life on the other. For us, this film did what all films strive to do: it represented and dramatized a way of life in terms that were at once specific and universal, not to mention unfailingly vivid,” the jury stated on the film.
The film narrates the story of a youth named Motu, who is a member of a gang of youths who retrieve contraband from the sea. Meanwhile, Motu’s father has disappeared while transporting illegal human cargo and the smugglers’ middleman contends with a toothache and tense telephone calls from his wife in Tehran.
The Iranian short film “Bagh Dad Bar Ber” by Masud Bakhshi, “Among the Clouds” by Ruhollah Hejazi and ""Shirin"" by Abbas Kiarostami were screened at the gala.
The 38th International Film Festival Rotterdam was held from January 1 to February 1.
Iran's "Be Calm and Count to Seven" by Ramtin Lavafi Pour received Golden Tiger Award at the 38th Rotterdam Film Festival in Holland.
The new cinematic structure of the film, its accuracy in details and strong realistic view were among the factors which caused the jury select the film as the top winner, said the jury head of the festival.
Lavafi Pour for his part pointed out the tragedy of Gaza and said "I wish there will be a day in the world in which no child is killed for the acquisitiveness of one or more people."
Fourteen films from Turkey, the US, France, South Korea, China and Indonesia took part in Tiger Awards Competition.
The cultural event began on January 21st and was wrapped up on 30th.
Pics from Iran, South Korea and Turkey took top honors in the three VPRO Tiger Awards on Friday night as the Rotterdam Festival entered its final weekend.
"Be Calm and Count to Seven" from Iranian helmer Ramtin Lavafipour is a tale of smugglers dodging the law in the country's southern islands. Project was supported by the fest's Hubert Bals Fund for film in developing countries.
South Korean pic "Breathless," by actor-director Yang Ik-June, is about a gangster who falls under the spell of a wayward schoolgirl.
"Wrong Rosary" by Turkish helmer Mahmut Fazil Coskun recounts the romance between a muezzin, who calls the Muslim faithful to prayer, and a Catholic nurse.
Fourteen first and second films competed for the Tigers. Each is worth $19,000, plus a guaranteed slot from Dutch pubcaster VPRO.
Kudos at CineMart, the fest's venerable co-production market, went to projects from the U.S. and Mongolia.
The Arte France Cinema Award went to Lance Weiler's cross-media project "Him," about a group of youngsters isolated in a rural town when the adults are struck by a sleep virus. The helmer describes it as a collision of film, gaming and interactive technology. Award is worth $13,000.
The Prince Claus Fund film grant went to "Birdie" by Byamba Sakhya, about a poor Mongolian boy struggling to live in a changing society. Award is worth $19,000, for the first creative phase of project development.
Among other awards, the fest jury focusing on Asian cinema honored "The Land" by Chinese helmer He Jia, with a special mention for "Agrarian Utopia" by Uruphong Raksasad of Thailand.
International critics gave the Fipresci award to Tiger candidate "Blind Pig Who Wants to Fly," from Indonesian helmer Edwin. Local scribes favored "Tony Manero" by Pablo Larrain.
The Audience Award went to "Slumdog Millionaire," screening in the festival ahead of its local release on Feb. 12. Pic also won the junior jury's vote.
Out of 33 films in the fest whose production was supported by the Hubert Bals Fund, the public liked "Teza" best. It takes home the Dioraphte prize, worth $13,000. Haile Gerima's pic tells the story of a man trying to come to terms with his Ethiopian homeland after two periods of exile.
Total attendance at the fest was slightly down, with 341,000 visitors compared to 355,000 last year.
The festival’s top prize, the VPRO Tiger Awards went to three films including Lavafipur’s movie. Some 14 first or second time feature film directors competed for these awards.
“We were extremely impressed by the artistry and vigor of the first film – the level of craftsmanship and cinematic intelligence on the one hand, and the dedication to rendering the reality of a particular way of life on the other. For us, this film did what all films strive to do: it represented and dramatized a way of life in terms that were at once specific and universal, not to mention unfailingly vivid,” the jury stated on the film.
The film narrates the story of a youth named Motu, who is a member of a gang of youths who retrieve contraband from the sea. Meanwhile, Motu’s father has disappeared while transporting illegal human cargo and the smugglers’ middleman contends with a toothache and tense telephone calls from his wife in Tehran.
The Iranian short film “Bagh Dad Bar Ber” by Masud Bakhshi, “Among the Clouds” by Ruhollah Hejazi and ""Shirin"" by Abbas Kiarostami were screened at the gala.
The 38th International Film Festival Rotterdam was held from January 1 to February 1.
Iran's "Be Calm and Count to Seven" by Ramtin Lavafi Pour received Golden Tiger Award at the 38th Rotterdam Film Festival in Holland.
The new cinematic structure of the film, its accuracy in details and strong realistic view were among the factors which caused the jury select the film as the top winner, said the jury head of the festival.
Lavafi Pour for his part pointed out the tragedy of Gaza and said "I wish there will be a day in the world in which no child is killed for the acquisitiveness of one or more people."
Fourteen films from Turkey, the US, France, South Korea, China and Indonesia took part in Tiger Awards Competition.
The cultural event began on January 21st and was wrapped up on 30th.
Pics from Iran, South Korea and Turkey took top honors in the three VPRO Tiger Awards on Friday night as the Rotterdam Festival entered its final weekend.
"Be Calm and Count to Seven" from Iranian helmer Ramtin Lavafipour is a tale of smugglers dodging the law in the country's southern islands. Project was supported by the fest's Hubert Bals Fund for film in developing countries.
South Korean pic "Breathless," by actor-director Yang Ik-June, is about a gangster who falls under the spell of a wayward schoolgirl.
"Wrong Rosary" by Turkish helmer Mahmut Fazil Coskun recounts the romance between a muezzin, who calls the Muslim faithful to prayer, and a Catholic nurse.
Fourteen first and second films competed for the Tigers. Each is worth $19,000, plus a guaranteed slot from Dutch pubcaster VPRO.
Kudos at CineMart, the fest's venerable co-production market, went to projects from the U.S. and Mongolia.
The Arte France Cinema Award went to Lance Weiler's cross-media project "Him," about a group of youngsters isolated in a rural town when the adults are struck by a sleep virus. The helmer describes it as a collision of film, gaming and interactive technology. Award is worth $13,000.
The Prince Claus Fund film grant went to "Birdie" by Byamba Sakhya, about a poor Mongolian boy struggling to live in a changing society. Award is worth $19,000, for the first creative phase of project development.
Among other awards, the fest jury focusing on Asian cinema honored "The Land" by Chinese helmer He Jia, with a special mention for "Agrarian Utopia" by Uruphong Raksasad of Thailand.
International critics gave the Fipresci award to Tiger candidate "Blind Pig Who Wants to Fly," from Indonesian helmer Edwin. Local scribes favored "Tony Manero" by Pablo Larrain.
The Audience Award went to "Slumdog Millionaire," screening in the festival ahead of its local release on Feb. 12. Pic also won the junior jury's vote.
Out of 33 films in the fest whose production was supported by the Hubert Bals Fund, the public liked "Teza" best. It takes home the Dioraphte prize, worth $13,000. Haile Gerima's pic tells the story of a man trying to come to terms with his Ethiopian homeland after two periods of exile.
Total attendance at the fest was slightly down, with 341,000 visitors compared to 355,000 last year.