TEHRAN -- The Iranian winners of the 61st edition of the Berlin film festival were honored during a ceremony at Iran’s House of Cinema in Tehran on Monday.

The Iranian family drama “Nader and Simin: A Separation” won the Golden Bear for the best film at the Berlin film festival and its cast ensemble received the best actor and actress Silver Bears at the event.
In addition, Mohammad-Ali Talebi won the Cinema Fairbindet award at Berlinale for “Wind and Fog”, which is a story about an 8-year-old boy who loses his ability to speak after witnessing his mother being killed in an Iraqi rocket attack on Iran in 1980.
“The sweetness of receiving the Berlin prizes was unique. This amount of recognition looks very promising for the Iranian cinema,” said House of Cinema Managing Director Mohammad-Mehdi Asgarpur during the ceremony.
A number of the Iranian cineastes like Abbas Kiarostami, Bahman Farmanara and Jafar Panahi also were in attendance at the ceremony.
Mohammad-Ali Talebi was first honoree, received a plaque of honor at the House of Cinema from Iranian director Sirus Alvand.
Talebi has won the Cinema Fairbindet award at Berlinale for “Wind and Fog”, which as previously mentioned, is about on an 8-year-old boy who loses his ability to speak after witnessing his mother being killed in an Iraqi rocket attack on Iran in 1980.
The Cinema Fairbindet award for “Wind and Fog” includes a 5,000-euro cash prize and for the marketing the movie in selected German cinemas.
The ceremony went on to honor the cast and the director of the big winner of Berlinale, “Nader and Simin”.
Iranian actor, Amin Tarokh, and actor and director, Davud Rashidi, were invited to the stage to present the plaques of honor to the winners.
“Nader and Simin” director Asghar Farhadi and cast members Peyman Ma’adi, Leila Hatami, Shahab Hosseini, Sareh Bayat, Kimia Hosseini, Sarina Farhadi and Merila Zarei attended the ceremony.
Ma’adi began his acting career in theater performances. After he received his plaque of honor, he expressed that it is his hope to be able to perform in a play that is directed by Farhadi.
Hatami presented her plaque of honor from “Beauty of Farima Farjami” of the 1980s”. Actress Farjami is able no longer to continue her career in cinema because of her disability.
Shahab Hosseini expressed his thanks to Kiarostami and Farmanara for attending the ceremony and said, “Asghar Farhadi has transformed the Iranian cinema.”
Bayat also thanked Farhadi and his colleagues in the film and said, “This plaque of honor is very dear to me.”
Child actor, Kimia Hosseini, said that she is proud of Farhadi and to have won the Golden Bear.
“My heart beats so fast when I see filmgoers waiting in queue for hours to watch the film. I thank them and I am also proud to receive the plaque of honor from Amin Tarokh,” Farhadi’s daughter Sarina said.
Like Leila Hatami, Merila Zarei also presented her plaque to Farjami.
Director Farhadi received his plaque from Kiarostami.
“The pleasure of presenting a prize to Farhadi is greater than receiving any award,” said Kiarostami.
“The Iranian cinema had been slack for a time. I thank you for livening up the cinema again,” he added.
Farhadi expressed his appreciation to all the people who attended the ceremony and denied the reports published in several Persian media outlets of his immigration to Germany.
Photo: “Nader and Simin” director Asghar Farhadi delivers a speech during a ceremony held by Iran’s House of Cinema on February 28, 2011 to celebrate his film’s big win at the 61st Berlin film festival. From left to right, Chairman of the House of Cinema Board of Directors Farhad Tohidi, filmmakers Abbas Kiarostami and Bahman Farmanara and House of Cinema Managing Director Mohammad-Mehdi Asgarpur are also seen in the photo. (Photo by ISNA)