PERSIAN FILM FESTIVAL RETURNS FOR 2019

The Orphanage

From a sensational psychological drama to captivating documentaries and graphically spellbinding animation, the Persian Film Festival returns for its eighth year from 4– 8 December 2019 to showcase the very best in Persian cinema.

“We’re thrilled to bring The Persian Film Festival back for an eighth year,” said Festival Director Amin Palangi. “From poignant drama to boundary pushing arthouse cinema and fascinating true stories, this year’s program shines a light on trailblazing Persian language filmmakers from all corners of the globe.”

Program highlights include critically acclaimed features: Orange Days, the Mannheim-Heidelberg International Film Festival FIPRESCI Prize winning drama, about a lone female contractor working in the orange fields of Northern Iran who earns a promotion and must overcome the misogynistic backlash she faces for her achievement. Another gripping drama is The Orphanage, which is about a 15 year old boy living in the streets of Kabul. His dream of becoming a Bollywood star is squandered when he is captured by Soviet police and forced into a state facility. And Reza, a heartwarming dramedy following a newly divorced man’s journey as he adapts to his new lonely life after nine years of marriage.

This year’s program also features groundbreaking documentaries. Finding Farideh, Iran’s entry for the Academy Awards 2020, is  a moving exploration of identity. It follows an Iranian girl who was adopted by a Dutch couple as a child and now returns to her motherland to meet with three families that claim to be her biological relatives. Gracefully looks into the life of a drag queen who had been performing on stage for decades before the revolution and after he has been banned from performing. Now he lives in a farm and sometimes dances for elderly people at nurseries.

The Festival’s opening night screening of powerful war drama Suddenly a Tree will be attended by the award-winning Iranian actress Mahnaz Afshar. She also stars in the program highlight Oath, which chronicles a woman’s grueling mission to bring her sister’s presumed murderer to justice.

Tickets on sale Friday November 15 at http://www.persianfilmfestival.com/

Opening Night Film

Suddenly a Tree (2019) – The award-winning director Safi Yazdanian’s  Iran-Iraq war drama pieces together a man’s life story from childhood to his arrest for illegal border crossing to his reunion with an old lover through his own narration, conversations with the police interrogator and a psychoanalyst.

Closing Night Film

African Violet (2019) – A Jury Prize winner at Tripoli Film Festival 2019, which explores the complex relationship dynamics between Shokkoo, her ex-husband who she takes in from a nursing home, and her disapproving second husband.

Feature Length Films

Takhti (2019) – One of the first Iranian biopics that focuses on the life of the Iranian Olympic wrestling champion Gholam Reza Takhti, from his humble beginnings to his rise to national champion.

The Swallows of Kabul (2018) - Adapted from the literary classic of the same name, this graphically spellbinding animation chronicles the story of Zunaira and Mohsen who fall in love under the oppressiveness of Taliban rule.

Leakage (2018) - A powerful debut feature by Suzan Iravanian. Premiered at the Berlinale 2019, it explores immigration, homeland and misogyny through the allegorical story of a woman who mysteriously bleeds crude oil.

Astigmatism (2018) – A family drama by Majid-Reza Mostafavi about an estranged father who returns to his family after a few years of separation in order to take back his house. His son, who farms leeches in the basement tries to reconcile his father with his mother to stay at home.

Numbness (2019) – A black comedy that chronicles a cynical philosophy dropout’s wild night – from a heated confrontation with his sister and her gambling addicted boyfriend to his encounter with an enigmatic taxi driver that results in a series of unexpected adventures.

Talla (2019) – A dramatic thriller about a group of young friends who band together to fulfil their dream of opening a small restaurant in Tehran. They encounter a string of troubles after one of them loses her father and a sum of money mysteriously disappears.

Reza (2018) – A heartwarming dramedy following a newly divorced man’s journey as he adapts to his new lonely life after nine years of marriage.

The Dark Room (2018) – Narrates  the harrowing story of a five year old boy who goes missing outside his family’s new housing complex and is later found alive, but with alarming signs of having experienced sexual abuse.

The Orphanage (2019) – A gripping drama about a 15 year old boy living in the streets of Kabul who dreams about becoming a Bollywood star until he is captured by Soviet police and forced into a state facility.

Orange Days (2018) – Tells the story of a female contractor in the orange fields of Northern Iran who beats out male competition for a promotion. In return, she must overcome the misogynistic backlash tied to her achievements.

Seven and a Half (2019) - The tale of seven girls; Shabaneh, Negar, Nahid, Fereshteh, Niloufar, Rahil and Shekar. Though each has her own unique story, all were robbed of finding love and controlling their own destinies by either forced marriage or rape.

The Paternal House (2012) – A chilling drama about honor killing. A young woman is murdered by her father and brother, only to return as a spirit and haunt future generations of her family.

Oath (2019) – A woman, hell-bent on avenging her sister’s murder, takes fifty men and women from her family on a bus trip to another town for them all to take an oath in front of a judge declaring her brother-in-law as the murderer. But the road has so many twists and turns.

Documentaries

Finding Farideh (2018) - Iran’s entry for the Academy Awards 2020, is a moving exploration of identit. It follows an Iranian girl who was adopted by a Dutch couple as a child and now returns to her motherland to meet with three families that claim to be her biological relatives.

Beloved (2018) – A heart-warming look into the life of an 80-year-old woman living in Albhorz mountains in Northern Iran. She embraces an isolated lifestyle without the modern comforts of technology and celebrates the simplicities in life.

Shouting at the Wind (2018) – A socially conscious exploration of a teenager’s four-year endeavour to become a singer in the face of parental opposition, financial problems and societal constraints.

Gracefully (2019) –  looks into the life of a drag queen who had been performing on stage for decades before the revolution and after he has been banned from performing. Now he lives in a farm and sometimes dances for elderly people at nurseries.

Like My Name Pegah (2018) - A free-spirited teenage girl living in Tehran must provide money for her boyfriend who is held in a drug withdrawal camp. Is she does not provide the money, the boy may be sent to a forced labour camp where death is commonplace.

Fading Portraits (2018) – A documentary about the renowned photographer Maryam Zandi and her attempts to publish her photos of the 1979 Revolution. She faces a dilemma: to give in to the Ministry of Culture demands omitting several photos, or to maintain persistence that historical events cannot be censored. 

DETAILS
Date:  Monday 4 December – Friday 8 December, 2019
Location:  Palace Norton Street, 99 Norton Street, Leichardt, Sydney
Palace Central, 28 Broadway, Chippendale, Sydney
Palace Chauvel, 249 Oxford Street, Paddington, Sydney

Suddenly a Tree

Opening & Closing Night Galas: Early Bird $49.50 (incl. food & drink), Full Price $59.50 (incl. food & drink)
Single Ticket: General Admission $23.50; Concession $21.50; Palace Movie Club Members $19.50;
3 Film Pass: $66.50
5 Film Pass: $105.50

Website: Further info available at: http://www.persianfilmfestival.com/