In accordance with our trend spotting, India continues to support and wave the banner for Iranian films, with a continuing cascade of related film festivals celebrating the nation’s work.
Starting January 26th, The Ravindra Mini Theater in Mumbai will be screening a special selection of five films: Salam Mumbai, Bleeding Heart, Under the Smoky Roof, Human Comedy, and Bench Cinema. Iran’s Cultural Office in India and the Federation of Film Societies of India collaborated for this festival.
Meanwhile, the Kolkata International Children’s Film Festival is underway, and is featuring several Iranian Films as part of its schedule, which hosts 200 films in total. Film veterans Abbas Kiarostami and Jafar Panahi will be among the Iranian filmmakers represented, with their works Where is the Friend’s House and The White Balloon, respectively. The festival runs until January 27th.
While the growing globalization of Iranian film continues, collaboration with, and visibility in, the nation of India has proven to be a reliable direction thus far.
Mahdi Zare, the Director of the Culture House of the Islamic Republic of Iran, commented on the festival in Mumbai for CanIndia: “While it is a positive sign how Iranian people are taking interest in Indian films, it is great to observe how Indian film lovers are also watching Iranian cinema…Through this festival, we want to spread out the beauty of Iranian cinema to the people of Mumbai.”
Cover image: “Under the Smoky Roof” by Pouran Derakhshandeh
