Iran has submitted “Nader and Simin, a Separation”, an acclaimed film by director-writer Asghar Farhadi, to the 84th Annual Academy Awards in the Best Foreign Language Films category in 2012. A portrayal of the break-up of a marriage, “Nader and Simin: A Separation” won a Golden Bear for the best film at the Berlin Film Festival and its cast ensemble received best actor and actress Silver Bears at the event this year.
A board of nine cineastes, which has been assigned by the Farabi Cinematic Foundation, an affiliate to the Ministry of Culture an Islamic Guidance, picks the Iranian submission to the Academy Awards annually.
The board also reviewed “Here without Me” by director Bahram Tavakkoli, “Women Only” by Rambod Javan, “Salve” by Alireza Davudnejad and at last select “Nader and Simin” to represent Iranian cinema at the Annual Academy Awards 2012. “Alzheimer’s” director Ahmadreza Motamedi withdrew his film from the list on Wednesday.
Farhadi’s previous film “About Elly” also represented the Iranian cinema at the Oscars 2009.
Iran, Academy Awards
Dariush Mehrjui’s “The Cycle” was Iran’s first submission to the Academy Awards in 1978.
In 1979, “The Lovers’ Wind”, a documentary directed by French filmmaker Albert Lamorisse in Iran, was sent to the Oscar race.
Iran did not submit films to the Oscars until 1994, when Abbas Kirostami’s “Under the Olive Trees” became Iran’s first submission after the victory of the Islamic Revolution in 1979. Iran also did not send a film to the Oscars in 1997.
The following is a list of Iranian entries to the Academy Awards over the years:
“The Cycle” (directed by Dariush Mehrjui, 1978)
“The Lovers’ Wind” (Albert Lamorisse, 1979)
“Under the Olive Trees” (Abbas Kirostami, 1995)
“White Balloon” (Jafar Pnahai, 1996)
“Gabbeh” (Mohsen Makhmalbaf, 1998)
“Children of Heaven” (Majid Majidi, 1999)
“Color of Paradise” (Majid Majidi, 2000)
“A Time for Drunken Horses” (Bahman Qobadi, 2001)
“Baran” (Majid Majidi, 2002)
“I, Taraneh, Am 15” (Rasul Sadr-Ameli, 2003)
“Deep Breath” (Parviz Shahbazi, 2004)
“Turtles Can Fly” (Bahman Qobadi, 2005)
“So Close, So Far” (Reza Mirkarimi, 2006)
“Border Café” (Kambuzia Partovi, 2007)
“M for Mother” (Rasul Mollaqolipur, 2008)
“The Song of Sparrows” (Majid Majidi, 2009)
“About Elly” (Asghar Farhahi, 2010)
“Farewell Baghdad” (Mehdi Naderi, 2011).
Only “Children of Heaven” was nominated from the list for a Best Foreign Language Film Oscar.
MMS/YAW
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Source : MNA Mehr News Agency