BITE THE MANGO FILM FESTIVAL 2007 (NATIONAL MEDIA MUSEUM)
KULTUR CINE CLUB SHOWCASES sponsored by |
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IRANIAN CINEMA SHOWCASE
THE OLD AND THE NEW IRAN: CONTEMPORARY IRANIAN CINEMA BY KULTUR CINE CLUB
The programme will focus on contemporary Iranian Cinema. Iran has a flourishing film industry with a long history, recognized as one of the most innovative and exciting in the world. Films from Iranian directors are being screened to increasing acclaim at international festivals, scooping several important awards along the way. Filmmakers such as Abbas Kiarostami and Samira Makhmalbaf have gained international recognition and have become important players on the international film industry.
In Iran, the relationship between art and ideology has proved to be as problematic as that between religion and politics. Following the Iranian revolution of 1979 and the inauguration of the Islamic Republic, many predicted that it would be the end of Iranian Cinema. Aware of Cinema's power, the Islamic authorities headed by Ayatollah Khomeini, made a concerted attempt to bring cinema (and all kinds of art and cultural activities), under the domination of state ideology and subject it to a process of ‘islamisation’.
The imposition of feqh (Islamic jurisprudence), hejab (the Islamic dress code) and sexual segregation led to the complete ban of women and love themes from Iranian screens for a decade (despite women being present behind the camera, working sometimes as directors). In those years, no quality films were produced with stories dominantly based on children.
However, Iranian Cinema has survived and is undergoing remarkable transformations in parallel with the wider changes in Iranian culture and society. In the mid-1980s, the grip of feqh-based ideology gradually loosened and a period of qualitative growth was felt. The end of the war with Iraq in 1988 and Khomeini's death in 1989, brought about a shift in the power structure. In the absence of a free press, cinema became an instrument of social critique.
Native filmmakers such as Mohsen Makhmalbaf and other artists, began to voice objections to the strict Islamic regime, managing to free their art from State ideology. Women and romantic love became the main focus of this confrontation, with women film directors breaking away from the male vision and starting to produce films dealing clearly with female characters and love themes. In addition, Iranian cinema started to attract international attention once again, reaching outside audiences and becoming the alternative face of Iran to the outside world.
Today the country is in transition from theocracy to democracy. Cinema, alongside other cultural and artistic products, has taken centre stage on this transition. This new stage is marked by the emergence of younger voices, demanding personal freedom, questioning openly and critically the whole notion of feqh-based gender relations and using love as their main themes.
With this showcase, Kultur hopes to bring to Bite the Mango 2007 a selection of these emerging younger artists. The programme will consist of a selection of short films, documentaries and features, which will represent a witty and comprehensive panorama of the new Iranian society, its psyche and modern history.
Ana Cristina Santos
KULTUR: IRANIAN CINEMA SHOWCASE - PROGRAMME
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(2:45pm) PICTUREVILLE CINEMA |
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Football Iranian Style (Football Beh Sabk Irani, Maziar Bahari, Iran, 2001)
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(1:45pm) CUBBY BROCCOLI CINEMA |
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The Ladies (Zananeh, Mahnaz Afzali, Iran, 2003)
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Maryam's Sin (Gonah-e Maryam, Iran, 2004)
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(4:00pm) CUBBY BROCCOLI CINEMA |
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Duet (Kiarash Anvari, Iran, 2006)
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Men at Work (Mani Haghighi, Iran, 2006)
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(7:45pm) CUBBY BROCCOLI CINEMA |
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Women's prison (Manijeh Hekmat , Iran, 2002) |
Sponsored by LEEDS MET |
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For further information on Kultur's Iranian Cinema showcase please click here.
