Two staff members form the University of Winchester have helped organise a mini film festival to showcase the best of Iranian cinema.
Whispers from Iran, which takes place at the Persian Cultural Centre in Southampton on 30 November, has been put together by Paul Carter, a Senior Lecturer in the School of Media and Film, and Ian Roberts, Programme Administrator in the School of Health and Care Professions.
The programme, made up of five recent short films, is the first cinema event the centre has hosted.
Paul and Ian are involved with Winchester Film Festival (a partner organisation of the University) which has featured Iranian movies strongly for several years.
Ian, who is also a PhD student whose thesis looks at the cultural impact on communities of small film festivals, said: “Iranian films have been an important part of Winchester Film Festival since 2018 but Southampton has a large and active Iranian community so we thought the city should be screening some of these films.”
Since the 1990s Iranian film maker have received critical acclaim and scooped several prizes at top international festivals as well as Best International Film Oscars for Asghar Farhadi's A Separation in 2011 and The Salesman in 2016.
Despite the difficulty of working under a strict Islamic regime, many Iranian film makers have developed resourceful ways to explore sensitive topics and avoid censorship. There are also many successful ex-pat Iranian movie makers.
“The standard of Iranian film making is very high and gives a window on a world we wouldn’t otherwise see,” said Ian. “Beyond the big names there are many other film makers which we are hoping to connect with a wider audience.”
Ian said that he hoped students would attend the event.
“It is important that they get the chance to experience Iranian films curated and presented primarily by members of the Iranian community,” he said. “It will provide a degree of context to the films and wider culture which can otherwise be absent when viewing as ‘outsiders’.”
A spokesperson for the Persian Cultural Trust said: “‘We at Southampton Persian cultural Centre are proud to be working with members of film festival and the University of Winchester to showcase some Iranian made and directed short movies.
“The first visual representation in Iran is thought to have been in 500BC. Since then, after many ups and downs, today Iran is ranked as one of the best in movie making and directing. Something indeed to be very proud of.”
Somewhere to Stay (2023) directed by Amirhossein Hatami (pictured above)
Concealing a devastating secret, a father and son venture into an abandoned forest to ensure it remains hidden. The son soon realises that the burden of this truth has become too much to bear.
Mixed (2023) directed by Mina Sadat Hosseini
A female teacher sexually harassed on a busy street must choose between silence and protest.
Mirage (2023) directed by Nazanin Ghanbari Mohammadi
A young couple believe that they have succeeded in acquiring a baby boy, but not everything is as it seems.
Malakout (2020) directed by Farnoosh Abedi (pictured above)
A stop frame animation about widowed piano player who tries to bring his wife back to life but instead awakens the devil inside him.
Slight Pain (2021) directed by Poya Nabi (pictured top)
Thrown together by fate, Mahsa and Sara toy with taking revenge on an abusive parent. Despite starting off as a joke, this soon becomes deadly serious.
Tickets for Whispers from Iran on 30 November, cost just £3 on the door or £2 in advance from www.livedperspectives.co.uk/tickets. Screenings run from 7pm to 10pm.
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