An Iranian director has seized the spotlight at the Istanbul International Film Festival.
Bahman Farmanara’s “Smell of Camphor, Fragrance of Jasmine” won the prize for Best Film in the international competition, according to the daily Iran News.
The jury praised Farmanara's work as "a film which, through its presentation of the current issues of society, talks about universal problems like death, creativity and life in a humane, intelligent and poetic way.”
A jury composed of international film critics awarded two prizes at the April 14-19 event, said the daily.
Best Film in the Turkish selection went to “Elephant and Grass,” directed by Dervis Zaim. The jury lauded Zaim's picture for its “courageous approach to a social and political issue presented in a tense style and with professional direction," added the Iran News.
The jury was impressed by the diversity of the subject matter of the Turkish selection, especially in films like “Away from Home” by Semih Kaplanoglu, a film which shows a new director with a sensitive and personal approach.
The jury was composed of Ninos Feneck Mikelieds ("Eleftherotypia," Greece, president), Marco Lombardi ("L`Unita," Italy), Rafic Al Sabban ("Al Kahira," Egypt), Janine Euvrard ("Regards," France), and Cem Altinsaray ("Radikal Gazetesi," Turkey) – Albawaba.com
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