TEHRAN -- After years of neglecting the director, this year it seems the organizers of the Fajr International Film Festival have decided to acknowledge veteran Iranian director Masud Kimiaii as they have awarded his film “Crime” the Crystal Simorgh for the Best Film.

The film’s story, which is set in Iran decades ago, is about of man, who is trying to remain faithful to his beliefs through a dilemma.
“Perhaps the Crystal Simorgh is remnants of previous editions of the festival that was given to me,” he jested during the closing ceremony of the 29th edition of the festival at Tehran’s Milad Tower on evening Wednesday.
“I don’t know why they have remembered me after so many years,” he lamented.
“I am a filmmaker who has to take out loans just to produce his films. I am not subservient to any organization. I thank the jury members for respecting my independence,” he said.
Kimiaii films have been screened in various editions of the festival over the past three decades. However, none of his films ever brought him any prize at the festival, which is Iran’s most important cinematic event.
“Friday’s Soldiers” was his last film viewed at the event in 2004. He has not participated in the festival since.
This year, the organizers have honored him with a lifetime achievement award at the opening ceremony on February 5, in order to compensate for their past disregard of Kimiaii’s cinema.
Renowned Iranian director, Asghar Farhadi, won the Crystal Simorgh for Best Director for his family drama “Nader and Simin: A Separation”.
The film tells the story a woman named Simin, who wants to leave Iran with her husband Nader and daughter Termeh. Simin sues for divorce when Nader refuses to leave behind his Alzheimer-suffering father. Her request having failed, Simin goes back to her parents, but Termeh decides to stay with Nader.
Farhadi is currently at the Berlinale film festival to promote his film. Thus, “Nader and Simin” starring Shahab Hosseini received Farhadi’s award instead.
“I wish success to the intellectual Iranian director of the Iranian cinema,” Hosseini said.
Farhadi also won a Crystal Simorgh for Best Screenplay, which was received by “Nader and Simin” cameraman Mahmud Kalari.
“I am in touch with Farhadi in Berlin. The film has also thrilled audiences at the Berlin film festival,” Kalari said.
The Best Actress award the event went to Vishka Asayesh for her role in “Women Only”, a comedy drama directed by Rambod Javan.
Mehdi Hashemi received the Best Actor award for his roles in “Alzheimer’s” and “Mr. Yusef”.
Veteran filmmaker Dariush Mehrjuii won the Special Jury Award for “Beloved Sky”.
Following is a list of the winners:
Best Film: “Crime” produced by Masud Kimiaii
Best Director: Asghar Farhadi for “Nader and Simin: A Separation”
Best Screenwriter: Asghar Farhadi for “Nader and Simin: A Separation”
Best Actor: Mehdi Hashemi for “Alzheimer’s” and “Mr. Yusef”
Best Actress: Vishka Asayesh for “Women Only”
Best Supporting Actor: Hamed Behdad for “Crime”
Best Supporting Actress: Mahnaz Afshar for “Sa’adatabad”
Best Editor: Varuj Karim-Masihi for “The Poor”
Best Cinematographer: Mahmud Kalari for “Nader and Simin: A Separation”
Best Composer: Karan Homayunfar for “Crime”
Best Makeup Artist: Saeid Malekan (“The Morning Son” and “Alzheimer’s”
Best Sound Effects: Es’haq Khanzadi and Ali Abolsedq for “Crime”
Best Sound Recorder: Mahmud Sammakbashi for “Nader and Simin: A Separation”
Best Costume and Stage Designer: Iraj Raminfar for “Crime”
Best First Film Director: Hamid Farrokhnejad for “Red Journey”
Best Computerized Special Effects: “The Maritime Silk Road” by Amir-Reza Motamedi
Audience Favorite Film: “Nader and Simin: A Separation”.
Photo (Left): Director Masud Kimiaii holds a Crystal Simorgh for the Best Film he received for “Crime” at the closing ceremony of the 29th Fajr International Film Festival at Tehran’s Milad Tower on February 16, 2011. (Fars/Hossein Musavifaraz)
Photo (Right Top): Vishka Asayesh holds a Crystal Simorgh for the Best Actress she received for her role in “Women Only”. (Fars/Hossein Musavifaraz)
Photo (Right Bottom): Mehdi Hashemi leaves the stage after he received the Best Actor award for his roles in “Alzheimer’s” and “Mr. Yusef”. (ISNA/Amir Kholusi)