Fajr International Film Festival Culminates – Icelandic “Rams” Bags Top Prize

Rams, a humanist drama by Icelandic director Grimur Hakonarson, has won the Golden Simorgh for best film in the main competition – Cinema Salvation – at the 34th Fajr International Film Festival.

Producer Grimar Jonsson was not in attendance at the closing ceremony held at Tehran’s Vahdat Hall on Monday, so a member of the film’s art department received the award.

The story of the film is set in a remote Icelandic farming valley, where two brothers who haven’t spoken in 40 years have to come together in order to save what’s dearest to them – their sheep.

The movie enjoyed further success, as stars Sigurour Sigurjonsson and Theodor Juliusson shared the award for best actor.

The Jury special award didn’t leave the country, as Iranian director Puria Azarbaijani received the honour for Arvand, about an Iranian war veteran who is suffering from a mental disorder.

The Silver Simorgh for best director was presented to Turkish filmmaker Emin Alper for Frenzy, and Spanish writer/director Asier Altuna Iza won the award for best screenwriter for When a Tree Falls.

The Silver Simorgh for best actress went to Pantea Panahiha for her role in Iranian drama Breath by director Narges Abyar.

Seeing, directed by Soheil Amirsharifi from Iran, won the Silver Simorgh for best short film.

Below is a selection of photos from the festival’s closing ceremony.

Read more – Selected interviews from the festival:

 

“I Could Never Complain about Iranian Acting” – Alexander Sokurov

“FIFF Is Just Like Western Film Festivals” – Marcin Luczaj

Magali Van Reeth, French Jury Member

Martin Radich, UK Director, on Norfolk