TEHRAN -- Iranian feature film ‘World War III’ has been shortlisted for participation in the 70th edition of the Sydney Film Festival in Australia.
‘World War III’ is among the films selected to be screened at the festival’s features section that enables audience to “discover captivating stories from great cinematic storytellers, and see prize-winners from the world’s most prestigious festivals alongside new works that deserve to be known,” the website of the event reads.
Directed by Houman Seyyedi, the film tells the story of Shakib who has lost his wife and child in an earthquake.
He works in a place where a movie on the World War is being filmed, and when one of the actors collapses, Shakib is chosen as his stand-in.
Shakib is allowed to stay in the actor’s fake mansion, on the condition that he doesn’t receive any visitors, but he makes a decision that endangers his fate.
The film is co-written by Seyyedi, Arian Vazir-Daftari, and Azad Jafarian.
‘World War III’ received its international premiere at the Venice International Film Festival in Italy. It took part in the festival’s Orizzonti section and managed to grab two awards.
‘World War III’ also brought Mohsen Tanabandeh the Best Actor award at the Fantaspoa – International Fantastic Film Festival of Porto Alegre in Brazil for his role in the movie.
The 70th edition of the Sydney Film Festival will take place on June 7-18, 2023.
Meanwhile, tThe Iranian movie “Lady of the City” has won the best film award in Australia’s 7th Women Media Arts and Film Festival (WMAFF).
Directed by Maryam Bahrololumi and produced by Pegah Ahmadi, the Iranian film follows Shahrbanoo, a woman who has been sentenced to life in prison for being a drug mule. After eleven years in jail, she is released from prison for a few days to attend her son’s wedding. The temporary freedom helps her see a new aspect of her life and that of her family before returning to prison.
The Women Media Arts and Film Festival is a new screen culture and audience development initiative by Cinewest in partnership with the Sydney Olympic Park Authority. The main program consists of award-winning short and feature-length films and media artworks produced, written and directed by women from Australia and around the world.
The 7th edition of the Women Media Arts and Film Festival was held on May 1-7 in Sidney.