Latest news with #AsgharFarhadi
Qatar Tribune
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Qatar Tribune
Media City Qatar, RCD Media host masterclasses with Oscar-winning filmmaker
Tribune News Network Doha Media City Qatar supported a sold-out masterclass organised by RCD Media, one of its licensed companies. The two-day event brought acclaimed French-Iranian filmmaker and two-time Academy Award winner Asghar Farhadi to Qatar. Held on May 27 and 28, the masterclass welcomed 60 attendees from across the country's creative and filmmaking community. Farhadi, an Academy Award winner whose films have also earned the Golden Bear in Berlin and the Grand Prix at Cannes, is internationally known for A Separation (2011) and The Salesman (2016). He is widely regarded for his ability to craft emotionally layered stories that explore moral conflict and social complexity. His presence in Qatar marks a significant moment for the local film scene, offering emerging talent direct insight into the craft of one of the most influential contemporary directors. The masterclass reflects Media City Qatar's ongoing commitment to supporting the next generation of content creators and emerging talent, in alignment with its mandate to advance the country's production sector and creative economy.
The Guardian
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Woman and Child review – drama of rage and pain in the Iranian marriage market
A strange, sad, sombre movie from Iranian director Saeed Roustaee whose last entry at Cannes was the family drama Leila's Brothers in 2022. This is a story about the randomness of life in the big city, a melodramatic convulsion of grief, rage and pain which has a TV soap feel to its succession of escalating crises. Like Leila's Brothers, it is about the entitlement of Iran's menfolk, and how a man – however shiftless, casual and low-status – can somehow pull rank on a woman in the marriage market. Payman Maadi (from Asghar Farhadi's A Separation) plays Hamid, an ambulance driver in his late 40s with a certain roguish ladies-man charm whose unmarried status raises eyebrows among some of his acquaintances, but who is now engaged to Mahnaz (Parinaz Izadyar). She is a smart, hardworking hospital nurse who is widowed and lives with her sister Mehri (Soha Niasti) and mum (Fereshteh Sadre Orafaee), and her two kids. Teen son Aliyar (Sinan Mohebi) is always in trouble at school and has a breezy way of sweet-talking his mother into forgiving him and younger sister Neda (Arshida Dorostkar). Hamid is not exactly a catch, but behaves implicitly as if Mahnaz's two children mean that he is the one being a saint. He insists that the children are absent from the house when his parents come round, and that all their things are hidden away as Mahnaz's future parents-in-law don't know about them and might stop the marriage. Mahnaz, against her better judgment, parks the children with the grumpy father of her late husband. The meeting with Hamid's parents goes ahead and terrible events are set in train including one which is, perhaps bafflingly, never shown on camera and its perpetrator never shown explaining it or discussing it – though an enigma is possibly the point. Maadi's performance coolly conveys how slippery an individual Hamid is: accustomed to being adored for his supposedly endearing way with a gallant remark, but shrill and self-pitying when challenged on anything. He is running a shabby, corrupt little scam: allowing people to sleep in the ambulances when they are not being used, for an exploitative cash payment. And there are signs that Hamid has a roving eye and he is still (instinctively) hitting on other women. From this tense situation (in which the game is patriarchally rigged against Mahnaz in ways that she couldn't dream of) a catastrophe occurs – in fact a double catastrophe – which sends Mahnaz into a rage-filled confrontation with every single man in her life, including the choleric schoolteacher Mr Samkhanian (Maziar Seyyedi) who expelled Aliyar against his colleague's advice. The tragic and startling events emerge in a movie whose storytelling style is otherwise very low-key, and which gives an almost bizarre and unexpected quality to all the heartbreaking emotional pain; this is the unexpectedness of real life, perhaps. Izadyar's full-throttle performance shows how anguish has made her a kind of ghost, haunting a world that she had hoped to occupy as a modestly contended human being. It is a little overwrought, though carried by the forthright performances. Woman and Child screened at the Cannes film festival.
Broadcast Pro
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Broadcast Pro
Asghar Farhadi to lead screenwriting and directing masterclass in Dubai
The masterclass will be conducted in Persian with simultaneous English translation. Iranian filmmaker and screenwriter Asghar Farhadi is set to lead a two-day masterclass in Dubai on May 30 and 31 (corresponding to the 9th and 10th of Khordad), marking his first such event in the city. Organised by Bamdad International House in collaboration with Tangie Event & Media Production, the masterclass promises a rare opportunity for cinema enthusiasts and professionals to engage directly with the filmmaker. The first session will focus on the art of screenwriting, taking participants through the entire process from concept development to final script. The second day will shift to the craft of directing, offering insights into Farhadi's unique creative approach behind the camera. Farhadi, a two-time Academy Award winner for A Separation and The Salesman, is known for his deeply human narratives and nuanced storytelling. His work has earned numerous international honours, including the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival for A Hero and the Silver Bear for Best Director at the Berlin Film Festival for About Elly. The latter film notably marked a turning point in modern cinema, prompting praise from legendary actor Robert De Niro, who described it as 'a mesmerising story that breaks through borders and deepens our understanding of a shared world.' Farhadi began his cinematic career with his first feature film, Dancing in the Dust in 2003. His international fame grew with his fourth film, About Elly, in 2009, which won the Silver Bear for Best Director at the 59th Berlin International Film Festival. Asghar Farhadi has significantly enhanced the status of Iranian cinema on the international stage. His films are known for their narrative style that addresses social and ethical issues through multi-dimensional and realistic characters. Farhadi uses everyday tensions and intricate details to build dramatic plots that explore themes such as honour, justice and human relationships. In recognition of his artistic achievements, Farhadi has been named among Foreign Policy magazine's top 100 global thinkers and was awarded the French Order of Arts and Letters, a testament to his impact on global arts and culture. The upcoming masterclass will be conducted in Persian, with simultaneous English translation available, allowing a broader international audience to benefit from Farhadi's insights and experience.
Daily News Egypt
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily News Egypt
Spain participates in EU Film Festival in Alexandria with Acclaimed screenings
As part of the cultural celebrations marking Europe Month, the Embassy of Spain in Egypt and the Instituto Cervantes of Alexandria will take part in the latest edition of the EU Film Festival in Alexandria. The festival, running from May 4 to June 5, is part of a broader initiative by the European Commission aimed at supporting and enhancing the quality of European film festivals organized by EU delegations around the world. This year's edition features 26 films from 21 EU countries, to be screened across eight cultural centers in Alexandria. Spain will present two notable works: 'The Blue Star' by Javier Macipe, and 'Everybody Knows' by Asghar Farhadi. 'The Blue Star' will be shown on May 15 at 7 p.m. at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina. The film follows Mauricio Aznar, a celebrated Spanish rock musician from the 1990s, who travels through Latin America in search of personal and artistic renewal, escaping the shadow of addiction. Along the way, he encounters Don Carlos, an elderly yet nearly forgotten folk musician. Their unexpected friendship gives rise to a unique and quixotic musical duo. 'Everybody Knows', scheduled for May 18 at 7 p.m. at the Instituto Cervantes in Alexandria, tells the story of Laura, who returns from Buenos Aires to her hometown in Spain for her sister's wedding. What begins as a joyful family reunion quickly unravels into a gripping drama, as hidden tensions and long-buried secrets come to light. Now in its fourth year, the EU Film Festival in Alexandria continues the success of its 2022, 2023, and 2024 editions. Admission to all screenings is free of charge, with English and Arabic subtitles provided to ensure accessibility for local audiences. Each film will be followed by discussions with filmmakers and critics, fostering deeper engagement with the stories and themes presented on screen. This cultural initiative not only showcases the richness and diversity of European cinema but also highlights Spain's ongoing commitment to artistic dialogue and exchange with Egyptian audiences.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Asghar Farhadi to Direct ‘Parallel Tales' in Paris With Powerful French Cast, Including Isabelle Huppert, Virginie Efira, Vincent Cassel, Pierre Niney, Adam Bessa (EXCLUSIVE)
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways Twelve years after making his French-language directorial debut with 'The Past,' two-time Oscar-winning Iranian director Asghar Farhadi is set to return to Paris for his next film, 'Parallel Tales.' The film, whose plot remains under wraps, brings together a powerful French cast, including Isabelle Huppert ('Elle'), Virginie Efira ('Benedetta'), Vincent Cassel ('Black Swan'), Pierre Niney ('The Count of Monte Cristo') and Adam Bessa ('Ghost Trail'). Iconic French actor Catherine Deneuve will also make an appearance in the film. More from Variety Produced by long-time collaborator Alexandre Mallet-Guy alongside with Asghar Farhadi and David Levine, the prestige project will be launched by Charades and UTA Independent Film Group at the upcoming Cannes Film Market. Charades will handle international sales, while UTA Independent Film Group will rep U.S. rights. Farhadi is set to begin production on 'Parallel Tales' in Paris this fall. The Iranian director's most recent film, 'A Hero,' earned the Grand Prize at Cannes in 2021 and was nominated for a Golden Globe. 'Parallel Tales' marks Farhadi's eagerly awaited follow up to 'A Hero' which earned the Grand Prize at Cannes in 2021. The helmer, who is attached to France through his friendship and collaboration with Mallet-Guy, previously struck a chord with 'The Past' which starred Tahar Rahim and Berenice Bejo. The movie competed at Cannes in 2013 and won best actress for Bejo, and received five César nominations and a Golden Globe nomination in 2014. Besides 'The Past,' Mallet-Guy's Paris-based company Memento Production three more films by Farhadi, 'The Salesman,' which won two awards at Cannes for its screenplay and lead actor in 2016, and the Oscar for best foreign language film the following year; 'Everybody Knows,' Farhadi's Spanish-language debut starring Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem, which opened and competed at Cannes in 2018; and lastly 'A Hero.' On top of producing, Memento, which is one of France's leading distribution companies, will handle the release 'Parallel Tales' in France. The cast of 'Parallel Tales' is particularly exciting as it mixes some of the biggest names in French cinema from different generations and cinematic horizons, notably Huppert and Efira, and Cassel and Niney, whose recent epic film 'The Count of Monte-Cristo' was France's second biggest box office hit in 2024 with 10 million admissions sold. Bessa, meanwhile, is a rising French talent who was nominated for a Cesar Award for his performance in 'Ghost Trail' earlier this year. 'Parallel Tales' is expected to be theatrically released in France in the Spring of 2026. The film will be an official French-Italian-Belgian coproduction between Alexandre Mallet-Guy's Memento Production in France, Andrea Occhipinti's Lucky Red in Italy, and André Logie's Panache Productions and Gaëtan David's La Compagnie Cinématographique in Belgium. Anonymous Content in the US will also co-produce the film. Memento Production, whose auteur-driven production credits include Nuri Bilge Ceylan's Palme d'Or 'Winter Sleep' and 'On Barren Weeds,' is headed for a strong Cannes Film Festival with Tarik Saleh's 'Eagles of The Republic' set to world premiere in competition. 'Eagles of The Republic' will reteam Mallet-Guy's Memento Production with Saleh following 'Cairo Conspiracy' which had won best script at Cannes in 2022. Anonymous Content's credits include Oscar-winning films such as 'The Revenant,' 'Spotlight,' 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind' and 'Mr. Robot,' along with recent and upcoming projects such as 'The Nickel Boys,' 'True Detective: Season 4,' Alfonso Cuarón's 'Disclaimer,' 'East of Eden' starring Florence Pugh, and 'Neuromancer' starring Callum Turner. Executive producer credits include Carole Baraton, Yohann Comte, Pierre Mazars, Yousra Filali, Stefano Massenzi, Chadwick Prichard, Krzysztof Piesiewicz, Maciej Musial and Lila Yacoub. Asghar Farhadi Best of Variety Sign up for Variety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
