TEHRAN – Iranian filmmaker Ida Panahandeh’s social drama “Nahid” and Indian director Neeraj Ghaywan’s “Masaan” shared Prix de l’Avenir -- the special jury prize for debut films at the 68th annual Cannes Film Festival, organizers announced on Saturday.

“Nahid” competed in the Un Certain Regard section at the festival.

Cinema Organization of Iran Director Hojjatollah Ayyubi and his advisor, Alireza Razadad, congratulated Panahandeh on their success in messages, which were published on Sunday.

Rezadad who was attending the Cannes festival this year insisted on greater participation of Iranian cineastes in international events.

Iran’s cinema needs to provide the basis for international participation of Iranian films, he added.

“We should be happy that the debut film of Panahandeh won an award, and naturally, an award is an advantage for any movie,” he added.

The film “Nahid” tells the story of an Iranian woman who has failed in her first marriage and is unable to express her love for the second time due to social conditions, while she is trying to gain custody of her son after the divorce.

Pejman Bazeghi, Sareh Bayat and Navid Mohammadzadeh are the main members of the cast.

In addition, “Hrutar” (Rams) by director Grimur Hakonarson won the Un Certain Regard prize.

Japanese auteur Kiyoshi Kurosawa got the Best Director award for his latest film “Kishibe No Tabi” (Journey to the Shore).

The Jury Prize went to Croatian director Dalibor Matanic for “Zvizdan” and the Un Certain Talent prize was awarded to Romanian Corneliu Porumboiu’s “Comoara” (The Treasure).

Jury president Isabella Rossellini said that viewing the entries “was like taking a flight over the planet and seeing all the inhabitants and their emotions.”

Photo: A poster for “Nahid”

RM/YAW
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