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Farhang Foundation is proud to partner with the prestigious American Film Institute for the 10th year in a row in presenting all the Iranian films at the 2024 AFI FEST.

Universal Language

A Film by Matthew Rankin

Oct 24, 9:30pm

(Chinese 5)

Oct 25, 12:00pm

(Chinese 1)

In Persian and French with English subtitles

Both screenings to be followed by a conversation with filmmaker Matthew Rankin and writer and producer Ila Firouzabadi.

Winner of the first-ever Directors’ Fortnight Audience Award in Cannes, the delightfully offbeat second feature from Canadian filmmaker Matthew Rankin (THE TWENTIETH CENTURY) imagines a parallel universe somewhere between Winnipeg, Montreal and Tehran, where the dominant language is Persian, and all signs are in Arabic script.

In an affectionate tribute to classic child-centered Iranian films, Omid finds himself, in the middle of winter, arriving late to class after a prize turkey has run off with his glasses. Though hope emerges when two of his classmates, Negin and Nazgol, discover a 500 Rial bill frozen in a puddle of ice and resolve to somehow retrieve it to buy Omid a new pair of glasses.

With co-writers Pirouz Nemati and Ila Firouzabadi, Rankin constructs this astoundingly unique and heartfelt childhood romp, interweaving a poetic meta-narrative sure to tug on the heartstrings of anyone who understands coming to appreciate a far-away country through the lens of cinema. –Malin Kan

Director: Matthew Rankin

Writers: Ila Firouzabadi, Pirouz Nemati, Matthew Rankin

Cast/Featuring: Rojina Esmaeili, Saba Vahedyousefi, Sobhan Javadi, Pirouz Nemati, Mani Soleymanlou, Danielle Fichaud

Producer:  Sylvain Corbeil

Cinematography: Isabelle Stachtchenko

Editor: Xi Feng

Music: Amir Amiri, Christophe Lamarche-Ledoux

Year: 2024

Running Time: 89 minutes

Country: Canada

Languages: French, Persian

About Matthew Rankin

Matthew Rankin is a Canadian filmmaker celebrated for his distinctive blend of historical satire, surrealism, and experimental aesthetics. Born in Winnipeg, Rankin developed a unique cinematic voice that draws from silent cinema, avant-garde film, and the absurd, creating works that are as visually striking as they are thematically bold. His films often blend fact and fiction, exploring themes of Canadian identity, cultural memory, and the oddities of historical events through an irreverent lens.

Rankin gained international attention with The Twentieth Century (2019), a darkly humorous reimagining of Canada’s political past, which won multiple awards and established him as an inventive voice in contemporary cinema. His earlier works, including short films like The Tesla World Light and Tabula Rasa, have been showcased at major festivals, including Cannes, Sundance, and TIFF, earning him a reputation as a fearless storyteller who pushes cinematic boundaries.

In his latest film, Universal Language, Rankin merges his trademark style with deeply personal themes, examining cultural identity and the immigrant experience in his hometown. Known for his playful yet profound approach, Rankin continues to challenge audiences, blending art and history with humor and imagination to offer fresh perspectives on the complexities of human experience.