Maryam Farahzadi’s The Role of Each Fret (Iran) was this year’s winning short film and awarded the top prize of $10,000. Commotion (Osyan) (Canada) by KAJART was the runner up and recipient of the $5,000 award. Rounding out the top three was Ali Azimi’s & Arash Ashtiani’s Prelude (Pishdaramad) (UK), which nabbed the $3,000 award.

Film poster of “The role of each fret” by Farahzadi, Maryam – 1st Prize

Film poster of “Commotion” (Osyan) by Kajart – 2nd Prize

Film poster of “Prelude” (Pishdaramad) by Ali Azimi & Arash Ashtiani – 3rd Prize

Nearly 100 short film were submitted this year, representing a diverse range of genres and styles and hailing from Canada, Germany, Iran, Italy, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

“We could not be more pleased with the results of this year’s film festival,” said Mark Amin, Farhang Foundation board member and Film Festival Committee chair. “The top three submissions came to us from various corners of the world, each demonstrating a unique talent for expressing a very keen understanding of Iranian culture. We congratulate the winning filmmakers and thank our panel of jurors for their dedicated service.”

The 2015 festival jury included Hassan Ildari, an assistant professor at Emerson College; Beejan Land, an actor and award winning playwright; Shaeda Moghaddam, President of Triangle Road Entertainment; Shaun Toub, a veteran actor appearing in hit films including Bad Boys, Iron Man, and the Oscar-winning film Crash; and Mark Amin, Chairman and CEO of Sobini Films and Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Farhang Foundation.

Since inception in 2009, the Farhang Short Film Festival has called on filmmakers from all backgrounds and walks of life to submit short films that explore, capture, or celebrate some aspect of Iranian culture.

Maryam Farahzadi
Born in 1990, Maryam holds a BFA in graphic design from Faculty of Fine Arts (University of Tehran). She has been working as an animator and character designer in “Pouya Negar” animation studio for 5 years and has taken part in different animation projects for Iranian national TV in addition to some personal projects.

The role of each fret by Maryam Farahzadi (1st prize):

KAJART
Kajart is a creative production studio based in Toronto, Canada. Formed by four friends (Hajar Moradi, Kajeh Mehrizi, Taravat Khalili, Vahid Fazel) whom share a similar taste of arts. One of our prominent works besides art & design is to make animation films. We love and enjoy giving life to objects and materials, and we always look for a new challenge in technique, concept and style.

Commotion (Osyan) by Kajart (2nd prize):

Arash Ashtiani
Born on August 1983 in Tehran, Iran. He attended script writing classes of Nasser Taghvaei, an acclaimed Iranian film director/writer, followed later by participating in a workshop given by Abbass Kiarostami and made his first short film during that time. He later moved to London to study Filmmaking at London Film School. “Only sound Remains” his graduation film was nominated for a BAFTA award along number of other nominations. He has made short films, documentaries and music videos since his graduation and is currently writing his first feature script.

Ali Azimi
Leader of the band “Ali Azimi and the Needs”. An Iranian rock and alternative band with all British musicians. He also was the singer-songwriter of the band Radio Tehran which became noticed after their first album 88, released in the Persian year 1388. Born and raised in Tehran, Iran. Ali Azimi began his interest in music at a young age. Coming from a musical family, he self learned to play the Piano and studied classical guitar with Kazem Moazen. Ali got his bachelors in engineering at Tehran University and Masters in United Kingdom in the same field.

Prelude (Pishdaramad) by Ali Azimi & Arash Ashtiani (3rd prize):

About Farhang Foundation
Farhang Foundation is a non-religious, non-political and not-for-profit foundation established in 2008 to celebrate and promote Iranian art and culture for the benefit of the community at large. The foundation supports a broad range of academic activities in Southern California by funding university programs, publications and conferences. The foundation also supports diverse cultural programs such as the celebration of Nowruz and Mehregan, theater, dance performances, film screenings and poetry reading in Southern California. And, in cooperation with various cultural and academic institutions, Farhang Foundation funds major programs and exhibitions about Iran and its culture.

Source: Farhang Foundation