Announcing 15th Annual Farhang Foundation Short Film Festival
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, April 29, 2024
Announcing The 15th Annual Farhang Foundation Short Film Festival
Farhang Foundation Announces the 15th Farhang Foundation Short Film Festival, offering filmmakers the opportunity to compete for prestigious recognition and cash prizes up to $10,000.
Submissions Open April 29 - July 29, 2024
Los Angeles, CA – April 29, 2024 – The Farhang Foundation is proud to announce the 15th Annual Farhang Foundation Short Film Festival, the only festival in the world dedicated exclusively to Iranian short films. The submissions period opens today and will run until July 29, 2024. Filmmakers from all over the globe are invited to participate for a chance to win top cash prizes, including $10,000 for first place, $5,000 for second place, and $3,000 for third place. The top six selected films will be announced in September 2024, with the awards ceremony to be held in Los Angeles on September 28, 2024.
Marking its 15th anniversary, the festival is a testament to the rich tradition of Iranian cinema and the creativity of filmmakers worldwide. To date, the festival has awarded $270,000 in cash prizes, showcasing a diverse array of talent and stories that reflect the vibrant Iranian heritage. All past winning films may be viewed at FarhangFilmFest.org.
"The Farhang Foundation Short Film Festival has grown significantly over the past 15 years, reflecting the strength and creativity of the Iranian film community," adds Alireza Ardekani, Executive Director of the Farhang Foundation. "This festival serves as a beacon for those who want to explore and appreciate Iranian culture through the lens of cinema. We're excited to see the innovative films that this year's submissions will bring."
The esteemed jury panel will be led by Jury Chair Mark Amin, a distinguished filmmaker and founder of Sobini Films, as well as a Farhang Foundation Trustee.
"Celebrating the festival's 15th anniversary is a true honor," says Mark Amin. "The Farhang Foundation Short Film Festival has consistently celebrated and supported Iranian filmmakers, providing a platform for unique voices and stories that deserve to be heard. I am thrilled to lead this esteemed jury panel in recognizing outstanding talent.”
2024 GUEST JURY PANEL
Lily Amir-Arjomand: Is best known as the doyenne of Iranian art and culture, and founder of Iran's influential Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults "Kanoon,” which served as a platform through which many of Iran’s most highly regarded creative minds launched their careers, including legendary filmmaker Abbas Kiarostami. Miss Amir-Arjomand is the recipient of the 2023 Farhang Foundation Heritage Award, which recognizes individuals who have devoted their careers to preserving Iranian culture and history, advancing Iranian studies, and enriching society through their extraordinary artistic contributions.
Zar Amir: An acclaimed actress, director, and producer, renowned for her exceptional and multifaceted performances. She earned the Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival for her remarkable portrayal in "Holy Spider." Most recently, she starred in "Shadya," winner of the Audience Award in World Cinema at the Sundance Film Festival. Ms. Amir will make her directorial debut on "Tatami," along with Oscar-winning director Guy Nattiv. Also upcoming is an adaptation Azar Nafisi’s classic memoir "Reading Lolita In Tehran." The film features an ensemble cast led by Ms. Amir and Golshifteh Farahani.
Ahmad Kiarostami: A filmmaker, entrepreneur, and the founder of DOCUNIGHT, a platform dedicated to Iranian documentary cinema. He has a deep understanding of both traditional and contemporary Iranian film. Mr. Kiarostami produced "24 Frames," the final film by his legendary father, Abbas Kiarostami. He also produced the acclaimed documentary "Coup 53" and the stage production of Hamid Rahmanian's "Feathers of Fire."
Noora Niasari: An emerging talent in filmmaking, Ms. Niasari made her directorial debut with the film "Shayda," executive produced by Cate Blanchett. The film has won multiple awards and was selected as Australia's official submission for Best International Feature Film at the 96th Academy Awards. Additionally, Ms. Niasari was nominated for the Outstanding Directorial Achievement in First-Time Theatrical Feature Film at the 76th Directors Guild of America (DGA) Awards.
Niousha Noor: A versatile actress with a strong presence in both Iranian and American cinema. She has gained acclaim for her performances, particularly her lead role in the 2023 award-winning film "The Persian Version." Ms. Noor also stars in the Netflix limited series "Kaleidoscope," which reached the #1 spot worldwide, and appeared in IFC's "The Night," where she shares the screen with celebrated Iranian actor Shahab Hosseini.
Shabnam Tolouei: A renowned Iranian actress, playwright, and director whose deep roots in theater and film offer a rich perspective on storytelling. She has received multiple awards, including five honors for Best Actress, Best Playwright, and Best Director at the prestigious International Fadjr Theatre Festival in Iran between 1996 and 2004. She recently completed the successful North American stage tour of "The Art of Improvisation," with Pejman Hadadi, Shahkrokh Moshkin-Ghalam and Behfar Bahadoran.
Short film submissions should be under fifteen minutes in length, and can be of any genre or style, visualizing an aspect of Iranian art, history, culture, crafts, cuisine, literature, music or lifestyle that will inspire and spark the audience's interest in learning more about Iran. All foreign language submissions must include English subtitles. For the full submissions requirements please visit Terms & Conditions.
All entries will be judged for creativity, quality, and originality by the esteemed jury panel. Views expressed by the filmmakers do not represent those of Farhang Foundation or the jury panel.
For more information, including deadlines, and past winning films, visit the official Festival website at FarhangFilmFest.org.
About Farhang Foundation
Farhang Foundation is a nonpolitical, nonreligious, and not-for-profit organization dedicated to celebrating and promoting the richness of Iranian art and culture for the betterment of society as a whole. With a singular mission at its core, the Foundation strives to preserve, nurture, and share the diverse heritage of Iran with the global community. Through steadfast commitment, the Foundation supports a wide array of academic, artistic, and cultural programs and initiatives, fostering collaborative partnerships with esteemed universities, renowned museums, and the vibrant world of performing arts. These partnerships enable the Foundation to cultivate a deeper understanding and appreciation of the multifaceted aspects of Iranian culture and promote cross-cultural dialogue.
Media Contact:
Roxie Sarhangi
Phone: 310-666-1546
Email: press@farhang.org
