2007 Program - Noor Iranian Film Festival

“
The Noor Film Festival’s
focus is to present films
from Iran and around the
world that an American
audience would not
typically have access to…
WELCOME and thank you for attending the first annual Noor Film Festival.
”
We are excited about our inaugural year. The NFF staff has put together an exciting line-up
of programs which we are confident you will enjoy. When we made the call for submissions
we did not expect the quantity and quality of films we received. These films are the heart and
the pulse of NFF and we can’t wait to share them with you. In addition, we are thrilled to
bring you great talents in music, dance and comedy for the commencement gala.
The Noor Film Festival strives to bring diverse communities together through the storytelling
medium of film. We proudly present films from Iran and around the world that an American
audience would not typically have access to. In this way we hope to foster a greater
appreciation of Iran and its people, and their contribution to the global cultural landscape.
This year we focus on the theme of Tolerance. NFF’s goal is to spotlight the medium, the
artist, the talent, and the positive voices expressing this theme. NFF is not affiliated with any
political, religious or ideological entities and is fully funded by corporate sponsorship,
individual donations and festival patrons like you.
I am grateful for your participation in making NFF history. I also offer a special thanks to all
the festival sponsors without whose contributions this event would not have been possible.
Finally, I wish to thank our dedicated volunteers for their hard work leading up to the festival
and continuing over the next four days.
Anthony Azizi, Cymbline Smith Azizi, Krista Behi and I would like to formally welcome
Festival judges Natasha Henstridge, Maz Jobrani, Harry J. Lennix, Kyle Secor and Shaun
Toub, and Keynote Speakers, Mark Amin of Lions Gate Films and Shally Zomorodi, Mrs.
California Globe 2007. Thank you all… Enjoy the Noor Film Festival!
Respectfully,
Siamak Ghahremani
Festival Overview…
Contents…
Feb 1
Opening Ceremony
Director’s Letter ..................................2
Feb 2-4
Screenings & Panels
Festival Overview..............................3
Feb 3
After Party
Award Categories..............................3
Feb 4
Closing Ceremony
Venues…
Los Angeles Airport (LAX) Hilton
5711 West Century Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90045
Sponsors & Friends ........................4
Opening Ceremony..........................5
Judges ............................................................6
Staff & Thank Yous ..........................7
Special Screenings...................8-9
Short Films ............................................10
Silent Movie Theater
611 N. Fairfax Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(Nearest cross street is Melrose)
Festival Schedule ...........................11
Special Tribute...................................13
2008 Info..................................................15
2007 Award Categories…
The Noor Film Festival will recognize outstanding achievement by the filmmakers we showcase in 2007
in the seven categories listed below. Awards will be presented at the closing ceremony on February 4, 2007.
NoorFilmFestival.com
12021 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 555, Los Angeles, CA 90025
TEL 310-355-6060 • FAX 310-826-3716 • [email protected]
Sponsors & Friends…
www.urFick.com
FiddleHeadFern
Productions
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Communications
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Olympic Collection
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Photography
818.981.0834
Radio Sedaye Iran
Opening Ceremony…
Live music performance by:
Strunz & Farah
Live dance performance by:
Beshkan Dance Academy
Standup Comedy performance by:
Peter the Persian
Keynote Speeches by:
Mark Amin (Lions Gate Films)
& Shally Zomorodi (Mrs. California Globe 2007)
Special appearance by:
Dr. Samira Hushiar (Mrs. Iran Globe 2007)
Celebrity judges:
Natasha Henstridge, Harry J. Lennix,
Kyle Secor, Shaun Toub and Maz Jobrani
Plus: 3-course
dinner, Celebrity Red Carpet Arrivals & More!
Feb 1, 2007 - 7:30pm
LAX Hilton
5711 West Century Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90045
This is a black tie event.
Judges…
Maz Jobrani
Natasha Henstridge
Shaun Toub
Friday After Next
The Interpreter
Knights of Prosperity
Species
The Whole Nine Yards
The Tourist
Crash
The Nativity Story
The Kite Runner
Kyle Secor
Harry J. Lennix
City Slickers
Commander in Chief
Sleeping with the Enemy
Matrix Reloaded / Revolutions
Barbershop 2: Back in Business
Ray
NFF Staff…
Festival Director:
Siamak Ghahremani
Co-Founders:
Siamak Ghahremani
Anthony Azizi
Cymbline Smith Azizi
Krista Behi
Programming Directors:
Mona Zahed
Jason Burke
Board of Advisors:
Behzad Tabatabai
Cymbline Smith Azizi
Lida Hanaie
Krista Behi
Anthony Azizi
Mona Zahed
Naysan Mahmoudi
Soleiman Bolour
Judges Photo
Albert Tabibian
Media Relations
Mona Loring, Dip. CW
Webmaster
BCF Consulting
Logo Design
Naysan Naragi
Ali Hajassdolah
Program Book
Behzad Tabatabai
Thank you…
Ali Issari
Hamid Shoshiany
Mona Zahed
Saman Mehrazar
Ali Jahangiri
Harry Lennix
Morteza Ghamsari
Samira Ghahremani
Ali Mirzalou
Hossein Hedjazi
Nahal Ameri
Samira Hushiar
Alireza Hekmatshoar
Jacklin Saidian
Natasha Henstridge
Sara Rahbar
Alireza Morovati
Jacob Hanaie
Navid Aslani
Sasan Kamali
Anthony Azizi
Joseph Akhtarzadeh
Navid Minaee
Sasan Moghadam
Arash Hafezi
Joubin Hanaie
Naysan Mahmoudi
Sepideh Danosian
Ardeshir Farah
Kenny Saylors
Naysan Naraqi
Shahean Talebreza
Ashkan Aazami
Kerry Ann Smith
Nazanin Boniadi
Shahnaz Rouhani
Avisheh Aazami
Kiumarse Rahimi
Neda Roshanian
Shally Zomorodi
Azita Shirazi
Krista Behi
Nima Nabavi
Sharareh Derakhshandeh
Behzad Tabatabai
Kyle Secor
Parasto Eliasnik
Shaun Toub
Ben Shamoeil
Ladan Ziapour
Pari Abasalti
Sherli Zargar
Borzou Baniani
Lida Hanaie
Parisa Shabanzadeh
Siamak Sabetimani
Carolin Saidian
Mahta Roham
Parviz Kardan
Sima Barabarian
Christine Sobhani
Majid Azartash
Payam Yavari
Sima Fakheri
Conejo Valley Rotary
Mani Nabavi
Perry Roshan-Zamir
Sina Bayat
Cymbline Smith Azizi
Mariella Hosseini
Peter Shahriari
Sohrab Akhavan
Dr. Flora Zomorodi
Mark Amin
Pouyan Shahrokhi
Sohrab Ghahremani
Dr. Kamran Beroukhim
Mayar Zokaie
Rahmat Hanaie
Soleiman Bolour
Dustin Ellis
Maziar Jobrani
Ramin Yaghoubi
Sorush Moghadam
Elaina Talebreza
Mehdi Zokaie
Rancho Park Rotary
Sourash Tourzani
Faramarz Nafeh
Mehran Amini
Razieh Oghabian
Suzie Khatemi
Farzaneh Horiat
Mehrdad Hagigi
Reza Faraz
Tanaz Dibagohar
Gilda Noori
Mina Sabet
Reza Moheet
Vahik Samani
Special Screenings…
AMERICA SO BEAUTIFUL
CAFÉ TRANSIT
February 2, 2007 - 9pm
February 3, 2007 - 9pm
It’s Los Angeles, 1979, and the American dream calls out
An independently-minded Iranian widow and mother
from behind every disco door. On the night Americans
flouts tradition by re-opening her late husband's
are taken hostage in Iran, Houshang, a young Iranian
Europe/Asia border café in this socially-oriented drama
immigrant is working in his uncle’s Persian market,
from director Kambozia Partovi.
dreaming to own a share of one night at a glittery disco
if he can just come up with the money.
In the wake of her husband's death, Reyhan (Fereshtei
Sadre Orafaei) longs to re-open her late spouse's café
Houshang’s friends and relatives are skeptical. They are a
despite rigid social standards that explicitly discourage her
group of expatriates suffering the consequences of global
from doing so. Isolated from her friends and neighbors for
revolutionary events back home. Houshang decides to
her headstrong efforts to get the business back on its feet,
show them all a piece of his dream by taking them out
Reyhan also faces pressure from her conservative brother-
for a night at the disco. But as dreams collide, they
in-law Nasser (Parviz Parastoei) — who longs to take
encounter a night of surprise and transformation, filled
Reyhan for his second wife as permitted by custom.
with disappointment, hilarity, pain, confusion and
Despite Nasser's vengeful efforts to break Reyhan's spirit
revelation. Set against the escalating hostage crisis,
and put her out of business, Reyhan's culinary skills soon
Houshang’s desperate night for assimilation becomes a
begin drawing a healthy clientele that includes kindly
moving search for identity, culture and a sobering look
Greek trucker Zakariyo (Nikolas Padapopoulis); whose
at the American dream.
relationship with the determined restaurateur may provide
an exit from her current crisis.
Directed by: Babak Shokrian
Starring: Mansour, Houshang Touzie, Fariborz Davidian,
Written and Directed by: Kambuzia Partovi
Alaian Desatti, Diane Gaidry, Atoussa Leoni, Ali Momeni,
Starring: Vanchos Constantin, Svieta Mikalishina, Nikos
Akbar Moazezi, Belinda Waymouth
Papadopoulos, Parviz Parastui, Fereshteh Sadre Orafaiy
BABAK AND FRIENDS
BONBAST
February 4, 2007 - 11am
February 4, 2007 - 6:30pm
For the first time ever, an Iranian holiday has been given
A young woman lives with her mother at the end of a
the recognition it deserves in “Babak and Friends - A First
dead-end street. She notices that a man standing in the
Norooz”. The 30-minutes animation tells the journey of a
street stares into her room every day. After a while, she
young Iranian boy named Babak and how he learns to
gets used to the man’s presence and falls in love with him.
connect with his heritage. Raised outside of Iran, Babak
has little knowledge of Iranian customs and traditions.
As the mysterious man slowly enters the young woman’s
Already feeling alienated from his classmates, Babak only
household and becomes a friend, however, she finds that he
feels lonelier when his cousins, Saman and Sousanne, visit
is a government agent sent to arrest his brother, a political
from Iran. Enlisting the help of Norooz heavyweights
activist hiding from the government.
Amoo Norooz and Haji Firooz, Babak is able to learn
more about the beautiful traditions of Iran and reconnect
Written, Produced and Directed by: Parviz Sayyad
to an ancient and grand civilization.
Starring: Mary Apick and Parviz Bahador
Featuring top Iranian talents, this high-quality animation is
an instant classic. The film features the voices of Oscar
Nominee Shoreh Aghdashloo, Catherine Bell, Ali Pourtash
and legendary Iranian actor, Parviz Sayyad. “Babak and
Mary Apick — Winner of the
Friends - A First Norooz” also features the popular
Best Actress Award for her
Norooz song “Norooz-e Ziba-ye Man” by Iranian pop
role in "Dead End" (Moscow
star Aris as well as an all-new, never before-released
International Film Festival)
Norooz song by famed Iranian pop singer, Andy.
Written, Produced and Directed by: Dustin Ellis
Short Films…
Submitted from Iran
GROUP 1 - February 2, 2007 - 2pm
Window was still open
Don’t dilute the water
A window towards the sun
Last fever
The moon on the roof
Butterflies die in snow
8:17
22:05
11:51
12:03
11:07
15:00
GROUP 2 - February 2, 2007 - 5pm
The autumn boys
Accidents happen easily
Tales of a golden fish
Water and Flower
White Happening
Stop it, I’m Out!
Flowers
It takes time as smoking a cigarette
26:00
6:00
9:52
4:22
5:41
10:42
5:16
16:54
Director Spotlight…
February 4, 2007 - 3pm
Director Mohammad Shirvani
Navel (Naaf)
President Mirghambar
1:20:00
1:05:00
Director Sohrab Akhavan
The Empty Cluster of Those Days
The DaVinci Experience
23:00
7:00
Panel Discussions…
GROUP 3 - February 3, 2007 - 12pm
Ghost Bird
Flying next to the Red chair
We’ll chat after lunch
Pari: Another Brick on the wall
Charchin
Chocolate
5:07
13:47
18:08
17:45
9:29
15:28
GROUP 4 - February 3, 2007 - 3pm
Hunting Ground
The tree without earth
Inanna
Serveh
The home became black
Sare Ceremony
11:17
12:22
28:41
10:04
7:39
10:52
GROUP 5 - February 3, 2007 - 6pm
The lost waves
Like a white happening
Shadoona
Flying next to the red chair
Negative (English)
Cold City
The dragonfly storm
6:57
5:39
6:25
13:47
14:00
17:07
15:08
Iranian Actors:
Anthony Azizi, Shaun
Toub and Maz Jobrani
Panel follows the
February 3rd 3pm
screening of short films.
Admission is free to
those who attend the
screening.
Iranian Director:
Sohrab Akhavan
Panel follows the
February 4th 2pm
Director Spotlight films.
Admission is free to
those who attend the
screening.
All Screenings at…
The Silent Movie Theatre
611 N. Fairfax Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(nearest cross street is Melrose)
www.silentmovietheater.com
323-655-2520
Festival Schedule…
Fri - February 2, 2007
2:00pm
Short films: GROUP 1
5:00pm
Short films: GROUP 2
9:00pm
Feature: America So Beautiful — A film by Babak Shokrian (Starring Mansour and Houshang Touzie)
Sat - February 3, 2007
12:00pm
Short films: GROUP 3
3:00pm
Short films: GROUP 4 (Followed by panel discussion with actors Shaun Toub, Maz Jobrani & Anthony Azizi)
6:00pm
Short films: GROUP 5
9:00pm
Feature: Café Transit (Iran's official selection for 2006 Academy Awards - Best Foreign Film)
10:30pm
After party at The Silent Movie Theatre
Sun - February 4, 2007
11:00am
Animation: Babak and Friends – Kids program
2:00pm
Director Spotlight — Mohammad Shirvani: Navel (Naaf) & President Mirghambar
Director Spotlight — Sohrab Akhavan: The Empty Cluster of Those Days & The DaVinci Experience
(Followed by Q&A with Director Sohrab Akhavan)
6:30pm
Feature: Bonbast (Dead End) Produced, Written and Directed by Parviz Sayyad, Starring Mary Apick
8:30pm
Closing Ceremony at The Silent Movie Theatre
E n t e r t a i n m e n t
BOREDOM IS OUR ENEMY
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a special tribute to
SIDNEY POITIER
by Sam E. Razar
With an inspirational body of work and his vital stature as “artist,
man, American, contemporary,” Mr. Sidney Poitier has broken
ground time and time again with carefully selected film roles that
defied the racial stereotypes of his time.
the embodiment of Tolerance
In an era when most African American actors had to settle for playing
marginalized characters with no substance or realism, Poitier landed
roles in such gems as “Lilies of the Field,” “To Sir, With Love,” “The
Defiant Ones” and “Blackboard Jungle.” His part in the civil rights
movement was to personify a dignified and benevolent African
American male.
In his titular role as Virgil Tibbs, he was justice personified. Fair,
commanding and charismatic, Tibbs was a man who upheld justice,
regardless of race. There was no doubting his strength of character
and there was certainly no doubting the pivotal shift in African
American portrayal on the big screen. His method was nonconfrontational and non-violent. His message was integration and
cohabitation. In 1963, when the country was still at odds with African
American civil rights, Sidney Poitier won the first Academy Award
for best actor given to an African American and was voted America’s
favorite movie star in 1968.
Sidney Poitier’s legacy began with the African American community
but resonates with all marginalized people. His defiance with dignity
is an example Middle Eastern Americans, actors and non-actors alike,
will do well to emulate.
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2008
See you in April…
Film Submission Deadline ..........Dec. 31, 2007
2008 Theme ......................................................WOMEN
Contact us for Sponsorship Opportunities
NoorFilmFestival.com
12021 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 555, Los Angeles, CA 90025
TEL 310-355-6060 • FAX 310-826-3716 • [email protected]
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