'The Salesman' to represent Iran at Oscars

EghtesadOnline: Iran’s Oscars Representative Board on Saturday selected 'The Salesman' as the final nominee for 89th Oscars 2017.

News ID: ۷۳۶۹۸۶

17 September 2016

Asghar Farhadi's drama has been chosen by a body of directors and producers who decide upon Iran’s Oscars representing movie comprising Pouran Derakhshandeh (director), Mohammad Bozorgnia (director), Mohammad Heidari (Fajr International Film Festival secretary), Saeid Aghighi (screenwriter), Amir Hossein Alamolhoda (director), Shahram Mokri (director), Touraj Mansouri (director of photography), Akbar Nabavi (film critic) and Amir Esfandiari (Farabi Foundation International Relations deputy), according to IRNA.

Amir Esfandiari who acts as spokesperson of the board announced that the body had chosen five films out of eight candidates from among which 'The Salesman' was selected as Iran's ultimate Oscars representative.

Hailing Iran’s House of Cinema, Farabi Cinema Foundation, and Ministry of Culture’s Cinema Organization collaboration, Esfandiari expressed hope that the film could portrait the capacity of the Iranian cinema properly in this international venue.

‘Standing in the Dust,’ (Mohammad Hossein Mahdavian), ‘Daughter,’ (Seyed Reza Karimi), ‘Lantouri,’ (Reza Dormishian), and ‘Nahid,’ (Aida Panahandeh) were also in the tentative list of the Board.

Farhadi’s latest flick won the Best Screenplay and Best Actor award for Shahab Hosseini in the 69th edition of Cannes Film Festival.

Farhadi's feature also won the international film prize at Munich Film Festival and Amsterdam Film Festival.

‘The Salesman’ narrates the story of Emad and Rana who, forced out of their apartment due to dangerous works on a neighboring building, move into a new flat in the center of Tehran. An incident linked to the previous tenant will dramatically change the young couple’s life.

As per the Oscars regulations, the movies should be produced outside the US and in languages other than English; should be premiered within the fiscal year beginning October 1 and ending in September 30, 2016 at least for a week at least in a single cinema; they should be eligible for public screening and should not be screened in the US publically.