TEHRAN, Feb. 8 (Mehr News Agency) -- Winners of the international section of the 26th Fajr
International Film Festival were announced on February 7 at the Aseman Cultural
Center.
Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Mohammad-Hossein
Saffar Harandi, Deputy Culture Minister for Cinematic Affairs Mohammadreza
Jafari-Jelveh, and members of the jury attended the ceremony.
In a short speech at the ceremony, Sinternational
affar Harandi highlighted the importance of the Islamic world's cinema
and spiritual films which deal with the truth in the modern world.
The special Moustapha Akkad Award went to Syrian
director Ghassan Shmeit for his film "ID". The award is presented for the best
foreign movie on the theme of hope and faith.
Following is a list of winners of the Crystal
Simorgh, which is Iran's most prestigious cinematic award:
Eastern Vista Section (Competition of Asian Cinema)
Best film: Waiting in the Dark (Japan 2006),
produced by Katsuyuki Oana and Shunsuke Koga
Best director: Reza Mirkarimi for "So Simple" (Iran
2008)
Best screenwriter: Reza Mirkarimi and Shadmehr
Rastin for "So Simple"
Seeking the Truth (Competition of Spiritual Cinema)
Best film: "The Island" (Russia 2006), produced by
Pavel Lungin
Best director: Takashi Koizomi for "The Professor
and his Beloved Equation" (Japan 2006)
Best screenwriter: Mohammadali Ahangar and
Mohammadreza Gohari for "Child of the Soil" (Iran 2008)
Special Jury Award: "Music Box" (Iran 2008),
directed by Farzad Motamen
World Panorama (International Competition)
Best film: "The Wind Blows through the Grassland"
(Iran 2007-2008), produced by Khosro Masumi
Best director: Semih Kaplanoglu for "Egg" (Turkey,
Greece 2007)
Best screenwriter: Francisco Vargas for "El Violin"
(Mexico 2006)
Best actor/actress: Galina Vishnevskaya in
"Alexandra" (Russia 2006)
Best short film: "L.H.O." (Germany 2007), produced
by Knuth Sorgers
Best technical and artistic achievement:
cinematographer Özgür Eken for the "Egg"
Special jury award: "Very Well Thank You" (France
2007), produced by Paulo Branco
Audience favorite Crystal Simorgh: "1408" (USA
2007), directed by Mikael Håfström
Audience favorite honorable mention certificate:
"Canaan" (Iran 2008) directed by Mani Haqiqi
