9.11.09 - 10.31.09
UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL: IRANIAN FILMMAKERS IN THEIR OWN WORDS
In conjunction with the planned visit of a group of prominent Iranian filmmakers to Los Angeles, the Academy and the UCLA Film & Television Archive will present a series of recent Iranian films, each followed by a discussion with one or more of the film's principal creators.

Filmmaking has a long and impressive history in Iran, a country of poets and storytellers. The large and well-established community of Iranian film artists currently working in Tehran and elsewhere has developed both technical expertise and a lyrical narrative style that has been embraced by film viewers, and honored by numerous film festivals, throughout the world. At the same time, new filmmakers and different narrative structures are emerging.

UCLA has one of the oldest ongoing Iranian film festivals in the United States, but rarely have the filmmakers been present at their screenings. This program offers eight recent films, representing each of the members of a visiting artist delegation from Iran, and will offer the opportunity to hear about their creative process in their own words. The five nights of screenings will begin at the James Bridges Theater on the UCLA campus and conclude at the Academy's Linwood Dunn Theater in Hollywood. Tickets for each venue must be purchased separately.

James Bridges Theater is located in Melnitz Hall, on the northeast corner of the UCLA campus in Westwood, near the intersection of Sunset Blvd. and Hilgard Ave. (east of the 405 Freeway, Sunset Blvd. exit.)

For more information about and to purchase tickets for the Academy screenings at the Linwood Dunn Theater, please visit the Academy website here

Friday October 9 2009, 7:30PM ( Online Ticket Sales Ended )

PLEASE NOTE: Online ticket sales for this show have ended. Tickets are still available for purchase at the James Bridges Theater box office the night of the show beginning at 6:30pm. PANEL DISCUSSION

This panel discussion features the members of the visiting artist delegation who are participating in this important program, including directors Mohammad Mehdi Asgarpour, Ebrahim Hatamikia, Reza Kianian, Reza Mir-Karimi, Mojtaba Raie and Alireza Raisian; actors Amin Tarokh and Fatemah Motamed-Aria; screenwriter Farhad Tohidi; and documentarian Mojtaba Mirtahmasb.

The discussion will be hosted by producer and past Academy President Sid Ganis.

Please note: This event takes place at the James Bridges Theater on the UCLA campus.

Approx. 60 min.

As simple as that
AS SIMPLE AS THAT
(2008, Iran) Directed by Reza Mir-Karimi
Tahereh suffers from a problem common to all classes of Iranian women (and women around the world): her inner life and her artistic ambitions have been overwhelmed by the demands of her home, self-absorbed husband and materialistic children.

This screening will be followed by a discussion with writer-director Reza Mir-Karimi.

Please note: This event takes place at the James Bridges Theater on the UCLA campus.

Screenplay: Reza Mir-Karimi. Cast: Hengameh Ghaziani, Mehran Kashani, Nayereh Farahani. Presented in Farsi dialogue with English subtitles. 35mm, Color, 97 min.

In person: directors Mohammad Mehdi Asgarpour, Ebrahim Hatamikia, Reza Kianian, Reza Mir-Karimi, Mojtaba Raie and Alireza Raisian; actors Amin Tarokh and Fatemah Motamed-Aria; screenwriter Farhad Tohidi; and documentarian Mojtaba Mirtahmasb.

Saturday October 10 2009, 7:30PM ( Online Ticket Sales Ended )

PLEASE NOTE: Online ticket sales for this show have ended. Tickets are still available for purchase at the James Bridges Theater box office the night of the show beginning at 6:30pm.

In the name of the father
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER
(2005, Iran) Directed by Ebrahim Hatamikia A young girl whose father was a military commander in the Iran-Iraq war goes to an ancient hill near the Iraq border in search of old pots, only to encounter mines that were placed there by her own father.

Please note: This event takes place at the James Bridges Theater on the UCLA campus. Screenwriter: Ebrahim Hatamikia. Cast: Golshifteh Farahani, Paraviz Parastui, Mahtab Nasirpour. Presented in Farsi dialogue with English subtitles. 35mm, Color, 105 min.

Feature preceded by:
Lady of the Roses
LADY OF THE ROSES
(2008, Iran) Directed by Mojtaba Mirtahmasb
This documentary tells the story of the late Shahindokht Sanati, who transformed the agricultural destiny of an entire region in pre-revolutionary Iran through the planting of roses in place of poppies, and the production of rosewater in place of opium.

Please note: This event takes place at the James Bridges Theater on the UCLA campus. Screenplay: Mojtaba Mirtahmasb. Presented in Farsi dialogue with English subtitles. DVcam, Color, 40 min.

A discussion with Mojtaba Mirtahmasb and Ebrahim Hatamikia will following the screening hosted by Oscar-winning screenwriter-director and Academy Governor Curtis Hanson.

Sunday October 11 2009, 7:00PM* ( Online Ticket Sales Ended )

PLEASE NOTE: Online ticket sales for this show have ended. Tickets are still available for purchase at the James Bridges Theater box office the night of the show beginning at 6:00pm.

Hidalou
JOURNEY TO HIDALOU
(2005, Iran) Directed by Mojtaba Raei
An aging university professor experiences a spiritual journey in three stages as he confronts problems with his health and marriage: bewilderment, awakening and finally, enchantment.

Please note: This event takes place at the James Bridges Theater on the UCLA campus.
Screenplay: Mojtaba Raei. Cast: Mahmoud Niyyat, Parvaneh Masoumi, Mahnaz Afzali. Presented in Farsi dialogue with English subtitles. 35mm, Color, 110 min.

A discussion with Mojtaba Raie will follow the screening, hosted by producer William Horberg. * Please note the early start time.

Thursday October 15 2009, 7:00PM*

The Mother
THE MOTHER
(1991, Iran) Directed by Ali Hatami
The younger members of a family gather around their dying mother and relive their childhood memories, as the mother prepares herself for her passing by involving herself in the planning of her funeral ceremony.

Please note: To purchase tickets for this screening at the Linwood Dunn Theater, please visit the Academy website here.

Screenplay: Ali Hatami. Cast: Rogheyeh Chehreh-Azad, Akbar Abdi, Amin Tarok. Presented in Farsi dialogue with English subtitles. 35mm, Color, 108 min.


Havana File
HAVANA FILE
(2006, Iran) Directed by Alireza Raisian
When the government cancels a promising biotechnology project, the western-educated Iranian scientist in charge of the project finds himself discredited when he takes his complaints to the press.

Please note:To purchase tickets for this screening at the Linwood Dunn Theater, please visit the Academy website here.

Screenplay: Farhad Tohidi. Cast: Niki Karimi, Amin Tarokh, Hamid Rezapegah. Presented in Farsi dialogue with English subtitles. 35mm, Color, 110 min.

In person: Alireza Raisian, Farhad Tohidi, Amin Tarokh.
* Please note the early start time.

Friday October 16 2009, 7:00PM*

Gilaneh
GILANEH
(2005, Iran) Directed by Rakhshan Bani-Etemad and Mohsen Abdolvahab

During the Iran-Iraq war, Gilaneh takes an arduous journey from her village to war-torn Tehran in search of her pregnant daughter's husband. Fifteen years later, as another war begins in Iraq, her suffering continues as she manages her son's war-related illness.

Please note: To purchase tickets for this screening at the Linwood Dunn Theater, please visit the Academy website here

Screenplay: Rakhshan Bani-Etemad, Farid Mostafavi, Mohsen Abdolvahab. Cast: Majid Bahrami, Shahrokh Foroutanian, Fatemah Motamed-Aria. Presented in Farsi dialogue with English subtitles. 35mm, Color, 84 min.

7:05 P.M.
7:05 P.M.
(2009, Iran) Directed by Mohammad Mehdi Asgarpour

Three Iranian women of different ages living in France face a variety of questions about life and death, love and betrayal, each asking "Is life always worth living?"
Please note:To purchase tickets for this screening at the Linwood Dunn Theater, please visit the Academy website here

Screenplay: Farhad Tohidi. Cast: Reza Kianian, Reza Attaran, Isabelle Pasco. Presented in Farsi dialogue with English subtitles. 35mm, Color, 90 min.

A discussion with Rakhshan Bani Etemad, Mohammad Mehdi Asgarpour, Farhad Tohidi, and Reza Kianian will follow the screening hosted by Oscar-nominated actress Alfre Woodard. * Please note the early start time.



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