Iranian drama ‘Melbourne’ will compete in the competition section of the 10th Zurich Film Festival (ZFF) along with 13 other movies.
This year’s ZFF will be host to 145 films. The International Competition section forms the core of the festival. It will present films by new, aspiring filmmakers who will compete for the Golden Eye with their first, second or third directing works. Melbourne is one of the 14 movies to be screened.
As a first film written and directed by Nima Javidi, ‘Melbourne’ stars Peyman Moaadi, the protagonist of ‘A Separation’ directed by Asghar Farhadi, the 2012 Academy Award winner for the Best Foreign Language Film. The brilliant performance of Moaadi in the movie convinced the jury of the Berlin International Film Festival in 2011 to award him a Silver Bear for Best Actor.
The movie’s social theme tells the story of a young couple whose plans to travel to Australia to continue their education are canceled by a tragic event a few hours before their departure, ISNA reported.
Strong Screenplay
‘Melbourne’ is shot in the confines of a messy apartment cluttered with boxes and suitcases with the residents rushing to pack their stuff as they are about to leave for the airport. Due to the limitations of space, the movie needed strong screenplay and magnetic performances so that the audience is not bored watching the same not very eye-catching view of the untidy rooms.
Fortunately, the requirements are comfortably met and the audience is absorbed in the well-written story which is not bound to time or place and can happen everywhere to everyone. The complex and numerous relationships between the characters are depicted so skillfully that the viewers immediately sympathize with them. The performances, especially by the lead actors, are thoroughly natural.
‘Melbourne’ is produced by Javad Norooz-Beigi. In addition to Moaadi, professional actors such as Negar Javaherian (A Cube of Sugar) and Mani Haghighi (About Elli) also have roles.
Earlier last month, opening the Critics’ Week section of the 71st Venice International Film Festival, the film was warmly welcomed both by international audiences and critics.
The movie’s world premiere received positive feedback from foreign critics who compared it with Hitchcock films for the suspense it creates.
Renowned Italian film distribution company Microcinema has purchased the movie’s global distributing rights. It will be screened first in Italy.
ZFF is an annual feature that has taken place in Zurich at the end of September since 2005. The festival focuses on the presentation and promotion of new directorial talent from around the world. Only first, second or third directing works are eligible to enter the three competition categories.
This year’s edition kicks off on September 25 and will finish on October 5. The winner will receive a cash prize worth of $27,000 as well as another $107,000 to help with its international distribution.
