Continuing its journey on the international circuit, the drama ‘Today’ by Reza Mirkarimi will take part in the 39th Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF), set to run from February 23-March 4.
Having participated in several foreign festivals, writer-director Mirkarimi provides a detailed, emotional snapshot of two individuals struggling for genuine connection: an aging taxi driver and a young woman coping with the ‘struggles of pregnancy.’
In the middle of a bustling Tehran afternoon, Youness is accosted by a desperate new fare: a frantic young woman named Sedigheh, begging to be taken to hospital. A man of few words, Youness retains his stoic composure despite the young woman’s visible distress. Upon their arrival at the hospital he reluctantly escorts her inside in the absence of accompanying family members. As the movie goes on, personal secrets are revealed.
The absorbing story is accompanied by stunning performances by the two leading characters Parviz Parastui and Soheila Golestani who keep the audience glued until the end. The movie was Iran’s selection for the best foreign language film at 2015 Oscars, ISNA reports.
Vibrant Culture
The Hong Kong International Film Festival Society (HKIFFS) is a charitable, non-profit and non-governmental organization dedicated to the discovery and promotion of creativity in the art and culture of film.
Through its year-round programs, the mission of the society is to strengthen global appreciation of Asian film culture and to promote inspiring films from around the world, enriching the cultural life of Hong Kong.
Among the festivals ‘Today’ has attended are: 20th International Festival of Cinema of the Author, Morocco, where it received three awards; Black Nights Film Festival, Estonia, where it received two prizes; and 7th Jaipur International Film Festival (JIFF), India, where Parastoui won the best actor award.
Mirkarimi was a juror at the 15th Tbilisi International Film Festival (TIFF) last December.
The film is currently present at the 38th Annual Portland International Film Festival (PIFF), held Feb. 5-21, in Oregon, the US. The event is the Northwest Film Center’s annual showcase of new world cinema. At this year’s edition there are 97 feature and 60 short films screened in different sections of the festival.
