The film collection of veteran female film director Pouran Derakhshandeh was unveiled at a ceremony in the presence of cineastes, cinema officials and film enthusiasts in Tehran on September 6.
A renowned movie director, producer, screen writer, and researcher, Derakhshandeh has made over 20 documentary and feature films, mostly dealing with social issues. She has participated in many local and international film festivals and won several awards.
Hojatollah Ayoubi, head of Iranian Organization of Cinema, said that through the medium of cinema "we do our best to present a nice and bright image of Iran to the world, ISNA reported.
He asserted that Derakhshandeh has served as an influential cultural envoy as she has presented to the outside world the true face of strong and capable Iranian women in her films. Visual Media Institute has released the collection in 10 DVDs to preserve the old and valuable works of Iranian cinema.
"Derakhshandeh reflects social realities in her movies. Our society is exposed to many challenges and shortcomings, which she depicts in her works," the managing director of the institute, Mostafa Abtahi, said.
Films in the collection include English subtitles for foreign audiences.
Derakshandeh, 65, said as a social filmmaker she would like to have the freedom to make movies on people's pains, show it to the public in cinema and on TV.
"There are lots cultural problems I would like to show in my films". She said that after years of working in this field in Iran she knows the red lines. Addressing cultural officials and critics of her professional approach, she says "Trust us. I should not worry all the time about my film being censored later".
According to the celebrated film director, "Social pathologies should be considered seriously as psychological security issues. Wherever I see suffering, I go after it. My movies belong to the people. I wish to make films without being concerned about the consequences."
She has made influential films on social harm and mental health including 'Mute Contact' (1986), 'A Little Bird of Happiness' (1987), 'Candle in the Wind' (2003) and 'Hush! Girls Don't Scream' (2013).
