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You see “Iran” and think certain things. You go to Iran and see the people, the shops, street activity, the environment, its museums and you forget the two things about it which shape your emotional reaction to it: politics and history. Being one of two Americans attending the Fajr International Film Festival makes me feel responsible for sharing my best moments with a broader public.

The Fajr International Film Festival is a gala affair, small enough to meet and share time with the many participants, both filmmakers and invitees from countries as diverse as Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Armenia, Turkey, Japan, Mongolia and Korea (and more!). I can only think of one other film event which offered such a luxurious array of experiences to go along with film watching (when Rosskino of Russia invited 25 U.S.distributors and us to Moscow and St. Petersburg and then repeated the event for Brics countries...

Tehran, Iran — Iran hailed the country's first Oscar-winning film as a triumph over arch-foe Israel on Monday after an Academy Award race with its own subplots: Iranian officials giving a grudging nod to cinema and Israeli audiences flocking to see a made-in-Tehran drama.

Iran's state-spun praise for "A Separation," which beat out an Israeli film and three others in the foreign language category, was mostly wrapped in patriotic boasting as a conquest for Iranian culture and a blow for Israel's perceived outsized influence in America.

Yet the high-profile attention by the Islamic leadership also represented a rare stamp of approval for Iran's movie industry.

Iranian filmmakers have collected awards and accolades worldwide for decades, but Iranian hard-liners often denounce domestic cinema as dominated by Western-tainted liberals and political dissenters. Some directors and actors have faced arrest or fled the country. In January, a well-known independent film group in Tehran, the House of Cinema,...

Tehran, Iran -- Iran hailed the country's first Oscar-winning film as a triumph over arch-foe Israel on Monday after an Academy Award race with its own subplots: Iranian officials giving a grudging nod to cinema and Israeli audiences flocking to see a made-in-Tehran drama. Iran's state-spun praise for "A Separation," which beat out an Israeli film and three others in the foreign language category, was mostly wrapped in patriotic boasting as a conquest for Iranian culture and a blow for Israel's perceived outsized influence in America. Yet the high-profile attention by the Islamic leadership also represented a rare stamp of approval for Iran's movie industry. Iranian filmmakers have collected awards and accolades worldwide for decades, but Iranian hard-liners often denounce domestic cinema as dominated by Western-tainted liberals and political dissenters. Some directors and actors have faced arrest or fled the country. In January, a well-known independent film group in Tehran,...

The Columbian film ‘Porfirio’ directed by Alejandro Landes and produced by Franciso Aljure has bagged the coveted Golden Peacock Award for the Best Film at the 42nd International Film Festival of India 2011, while the Silver Peacock Award for the Best Director went to Asghar Farhadi for his film ‘Nader and Simin-a Seperation’.

The Indian film ‘Adaminte Makan Abu’ won the Special Jury Award. Director of the film Salim Ahamed received the award which consists of a Silver Peacock, Certificate and a Cash Prize of Rs. 15 Lakhs.

The Best Actor award of Rs. 10 lakh went to the Israeli actor Sasson Gabay for his role in the film ‘Restoration’ whereas the Best Actress Award was won by Nadezhda Markina for her role in ‘Elena’.

The Iffi competition jury comprised of Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Laurence Kardish, Lee Yong Kwan, Tahmineh Milani and Dan Wolman. The festival concluded today with the screening of the English...

Panaji, Nov 29: International Film Festival Of India (Iffi) director Shankar Mohan Tuesday denied reports that Iranian female director Tahmineh Milani, a member of the international jury, had refused to take up jury duties in protest against the presence of an Israeli filmmaker on the panel.

Asked to comment on a news report Tuesday by the Iranian Students News Agency (Isna), which said that Milani had refused to join the jury panel, Mohan said: 'She has not returned. As far as I know.'

Isna in its report published online Tuesday, said: 'Iranian director Tahmineh Milani refused to join Goa International Film festival of India (Iffi).

International Film Festival Of India (Iffi) director Shankar Mohan Tuesday denied reports that Iranian female director Tahmineh Milani, a member of the international jury, had refused to take up jury duties in protest against the presence of an Israeli filmmaker on the panel.Asked to comment on a news report Tuesday by the Iranian Students News Agency (Isna), which said that Milani had refused to join the jury panel, Mohan said: .She has not returned. As far as I know..Isna in its report published online Tuesday, said: .Iranian director Tahmineh Milani refused to join Goa International Film festival of India (Iffi) to show objection to presence of an Israeli jury member in the event..The report also claimed that the Iranian female director had .returned home for sympathy with Palestine nation..Milani, whose women-centric films has even resulted in her being imprisoned, was one of the jury members along with Israeli Dan Wolfman,...

Shillong choir at Iffi Opening Ceremony

The 42nd International Film Festival of India was inaugurated in Goa on Wednesday evening. The Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting Ambika Soni and Chief Minister of Goa Digambar Kamat were joined by Chief Guest Shah Rukh Khan, actress Rituparna Sengupta and Festival director Shankar Mohan among others, to light the ceremonial lamp.

Life Time Achievement award was conferred upon French filmmaker Bertrand Tavernier. The event showcased an extempore painting by Vilas Nayak on Bertrand Tavernier followed by a screening of a two minute clip on the acclaimed filmmaker known for his works in world cinema.

The international jury comprising of filmmakers like Adoor Gopalakrishnan-the Chairman of the panel, Dan Wolman from Israel, Lawrence Kardish from USA, Lee Yong Kwan from the Busan Film Festival and Tahmineh Milani from Iran were felicitated by Rituparna Sengupta.

“Let Iffi become truly an international event- an...