Persian International Film Festival 2014

Overview

The Chauvel Cinema will showcase the best of contemporary Iranian cinema, as part of Sydney's third annual Persian International Film Festival. Highlighting six critically acclaimed films from the region, the festival aims to challenge audience perceptions while exploring the social and political issues facing people in the Persian world.

Certainly, Iran has for the past two decades been among the most exciting global film cultures, in spite of the draconian censorship laws imposed upon its filmmakers. Director Mohammad Rasoulof received a one-year jail sentence for filming without a permit and had his passport confiscated by the security services after making his latest film, Manuscripts Don't Burn. The internationally lauded thriller will open the festival in Sydney and is definitely work seeking out.

In a similar vein, both Hossein Shahabi's The Bright Day and Parviz Shahbazi's Tapped explore injustice within the Iranian legal system, featuring characters imprisoned on false or unfair charges. On a blessedly lighter note, closing night will feature Don't Be Tired!, a cross-cultural road-trip comedy.