TEHRAN -- Crystal Simorghs were presented to the winners during the closing ceremony of the 24th Fajr International Film Festival, which was held at Tehran’s Vahdat Hall on Saturday night, two days before the end of the screening schedule due to the approach of the holy month of Muharram.

Renowned director of Sacred Defense films Ebrahim Hatamikia was perhaps the happiest, and luckiest, man in attendance, since his “In the Name of Father” won Crystal Simorghs in six categories: best film in the Iranian and Asian films sections, best screenplay, best actor, best supporting actress, and best makeup artist.

Organizers may have wanted to redress an earlier slight. Hatamikia’s previous film, “In Color of Purple”, was banned by the Iranian Intelligence Ministry during last year’s Fajr festival. The film was about a romance between the daughter of a counterrevolutionary and an Iranian Intelligence Ministry agent.

Asghar Farhadi was the second big winner of the festival as his film “Chaharshanbeh-Suri” was awarded Simorghs for best director, best editing, and best actress. However, his film was expected to win more than three Simorghs. Following is a list of the winners in the major sections of the 24th Fajr International Film Festival: * Iranian Films

Best Director: Asghar Farhadi (“Chaharshanbeh-Suri”).

Best Film: “In the Name of Father” produced by Ebrahim Hatamikia.

Best Screenplay: “In the Name of Father” written by Ebrahim Hatamikia.

Best Actor: Parviz Parastuii (“In the Name of Father”).

Best Actress: Hedyeh Tehrani (“Chaharshanbeh-Suri”).

Best Supporting Actor: Hamid Lolaii (“How Much Do You Want to Cry?”).

Best Supporting Actress: Mahtab Nasirpur (“In the Name of Father”).

Best Editor: Hayedeh Safiyari (“Chaharshanbeh-Suri”).

Best Cinematographer: Mohammad Davudi (“It’s Winter”).

Best Composer: Mohammadreza Darvishi (“Devilish Acts”, also known as “City in Chaos”).

Best Makeup Artist: Mehrdad Mirkiani (“In the Name of Father”).

Best Sound Effects: Mohammadreza Delpak (“Time Stands Still”).

Best Sound Recorder: Yadollah Najafi and Nasser Shokuhi (“It’s Winter”).

Best Costume Designer: Iraj Raminfar (“Persian Prince”).

Best Special Effects: Mohsen Ruzbehani and Alaeddin Pajhan (“Devilish Acts”).

Best First Film Director: Mona Zandi Haqiqi (“Friday Evening”).

Best Second Film Director: Mohammad Nurizad (“Persian Prince”).

Best Documentary: “Inana” directed by Sudabeh Mojaveri.

Best Short Film: “With Him” directed by Naqi Nemati.

The Special Jury Prize in the Iranian Films section was awarded to Mona Zandi Haqiqi for “Friday Evening”.

In addition, child actor Samir Vaziran received a diploma of honor for his role in Alireza Davudnejad’s “The Rival Wife”. * International Films

Best Director: Gianni Amelio for “The Keys to the House” (Italy).

Best Film: “Slowly” produced by Jahangir Kowsari.

Best Screenplay: “Slowly” written by Mani Haqiqi.

Best Actor: Mohammadreza Forutan (“Slowly”).

Best Short Film: “Rain Is Falling” directed by Holger Ernest (Germany).

Japanese director Masahiro Kobayashi received the Special Jury Prize of the International Films section for his “Bashing” and the Best Art Achievement Award of this section went to German director Oliver Hirshbiegel for “Downfall”. * Spiritual Films

Best Film: “When Everybody Was Asleep” produced by Fereshteh Ta’erpur (Iran).

Best Director: Im Tae-Hyeong for “Little Brother” (South Korea).

Best Screenplay: Josef Fares for “Zozo”, a joint production of Britain, Denmark, and Sweden. * Asian Films

Best Film: “In the Name of Father” directed by Ebrahim Hatamikia (Iran).

Best Director: Ma Liwen for “You and Me” (China).

Best Screenplay: “The Village Album” written by Mitsuhiro Mihara (Japan).

The organizers of the festival also posthumously honored Hollywood Arab film director Moustapha Akkad with a Crystal Simorgh, which was presented to his brother Zahir. Akkad, famous in Iran for his film “The Message”, died in hospital from wounds sustained in hotel bomb attacks in Jordan last November.

The normal time for the festival, the beginning of February, coincided with the holy month of Muharram this year, thus this year’s edition was held ten days earlier. Organizers also had to hold the closing ceremony two days before the end of the screenings of the entries.