By
Darius KADIVAR
Close Up
on Siamak Ghahremani the Co-Founder & Director of the Noor Film Festival
©NFF
Payvand.com - As one of the youngest nations in the World the United States of
America throughout its history has forged its identity upon cultural diversity.
It is precisely thanks to this melting pot of races, colors, sounds and
sensitivities that it contributed to the invention (*) one of the most
attractive and enduring popular art forms that changed not only America but also
the World at Large particularly throughout the 20th Century and
beyond: The Motion Picture. What was deemed as merely an industry soon
became one of the most powerful cultural mediums which, with each technological
breakthrough, pushed the boundaries of individual and collective creativity
towards higher standards. However this quintessential American Art form
benefited from the works and talents imported from all over the world. Some of
Hollywood's Greatest representatives were hardly American by birth at least. Be
them directors such as
Charlie Chaplin,
Alfred Hitchcock,
Erich von Stroheim,
William Wyler,
Billy Wilder or male leads like
Rudolph Valentino ,
Errol Flynn,
Cary Grant,
Yul Brynner,
Richard Burton to Silver Screen Goddess' like
Claudette Colbert,
Marlene Dietrich,
Ingrid Bergman,
Ann-Margret all were "imported" talents who for most wrote some of the most
glorious chapters of film history. If European Artists constituted the first
legion in Hollywood, they have long been joined by many other nationalities
worldwide that have enriched it in ways that are reflected by Hollywood's unique
capacity of reinventing itself while remaining a reference for professional
craftsmanship and enduring modernity. Interestingly this has also been true for
the highly successful community of first generation Iranian Americans artists
today most of whom left Iran during or after the Islamic Revolution of 1979 or
were born and/or grew up in the US. Some have since become household names for
the American community and have had both critical acclaim and popular success
both on Television and the Cinema Screen. To name a few: Oscar Nominee Actress
Shohreh Aghdashloo (House of Sand and Fog, X-Men3, 24),
Anthony Azizi ( Commander in Chief),
Shaun Toub (Crash, Iron Man, The Kite Runner),
Bahar Soomekh ( Saw III& IV, Crash). One should also include to this
list those in the community who are the fruit of mixed marriages between Iranian
and non Iranian parents and whose cosmopolitan identity add an extra flavor of
exoticism thanks to such talents as
Adrian Pasdar (Heroes, Top Gun),
Omid Djalili ( Gladiator, The Mummy, Casanova, Spy Games),
Catherine Bell ( JAG, The Triangle, Army Wives), or
Sarah Shahi ( The L-Word). To this largely incomplete list of talents
one should also include the dozens of Iranian Americans who occupy key positions
in the industry as directors, producers, cinematographers, screenwriters,
technicians, stunt coordinators or SFX wizards. To name just a few in each
category respectively: Legendary director
Reza Badiyi (Mission Impossible, Bay Watch, Six Million Dollar Man),
Prolific producers
Bob Yari ( The Illusionist, Matador) and Lions Gate's
Mark Amin (Saw, The Prince & Me, Cinematographer
Darius Khondji (EVITA, Seven), screenwriters
Hossein Amini ( Oscar® nominated for Wings of Doves, Four Feathers)
and
Cyrus Nowrasteh ( The Path to 9/11, Into the West), Oscar Nominated
Sound Editor
Kami Asgar (Apocalypto) , Stuntman
Darren Shahlavi (300) SFX wizard
Habib Zargarpour. This ever growing pool of exceptional talents also offers
a great opportunity to bridge the Iranian film community at Large working both
within the Diaspora or in Iran with that of Hollywood and the independent film
society across North America. Iranian American Producer Siamak Ghahremani has
filled in this necessary gap by founding the Noor Film Festival (NFF) which will
be holding its 2nd annual this coming April in Hollywood. A
glittering event and much welcomed initiative that acknowledges contemporary
film and acting achievements while paving the way for future aspiring talents.
I had
the opportunity to talk to Mr. Ghahremani and learn more about his Film
Festival.
Our
Man in Hollywood: Siamak GHAHREMANI
Co-Founder of NOOR FILM
FESTIVAL
©NFF
Darius KADIVAR (DK): Tell us about yourself and what led you
and your partners to create the Noor Film
Festival.
Siamak
GHAHREMANI (SG): My co-founders,
Anthony Azizi,
Krista Behi, and Cymbeline Smith and I share
passions for both film and Iranian culture. Bringing these two things together
was a natural idea. We wanted to showcase the work of Iranian filmmakers as a
way to unite people, particularly in the current global climate of extreme
distrust. When we hear and see each other's stories, we learn we are more alike
than different. Thankfully, there was plenty of support for this idea in both
the Iranian community and the film industry. A number of dedicated and talented
individuals got on board early and helped make this dream a reality. None of the
co-founders take credit for creating the festival. At its heart, this is a
grassroots, community-based event.
DK:
For the first time in decades, the 80th Annual Academy Awards® held this
February had a particularly international feel to it. The Oscar®
winners ranged from Ireland, Italy, Spain, Austria,
France and the UK. The European Press, France included noticed that Marion
Cotillard's best actress victory, for La Vie En Rose, made hers the
first non-English language performance
to win the best actress Oscar since Sophia Loren's in 1962. Spain's Javier
Bardem - winner of this year's best supporting actor Oscar - went so far as to
deliver a part of his speech in his native tongue. To your credit the
Noor Film Festival (NFF), which was
first inaugurated last year, seems to have predicted this global awareness
that Hollywood is turning into a melting pot of International talents. How do
you situate NFF in this regard and what are your ambitions, goals and vision in
this regard given the cosmopolitan nature of the Iranian Diaspora and Film
Community ?
SG: The phenomenon you
describe is not exclusive to Hollywood; it's occurring everywhere. Technology
has made the world smaller and given us access to other communities like never
before. We have new opportunities to connect with, learn about, and appreciate
other cultures. And as we connect, we find out we're all similar people with
common fears and hopes. The geographic and cultural differences simply add a new
perspective on what we are experiencing ourselves. So as we learn about others,
we're learning about ourselves. The films we will showcase at the 2008 NFF were
submitted from seven different countries spanning three continents. But that's
all just geography. They resonate globally because of our shared humanity.
©NFF & CNN
DK:
I was impressed by the professional quality and prestigious and star studded
names that appeared in your Jury/Judges last year (**), but I see that you have
reiterated this with equal panache with this year's eclectic Jury/Judges.
Could you name and present them for our readers.
SG: As I mentioned earlier, we were blessed from the
beginning with support from highly accomplished individuals in both the Iranian
community and the film industry. This year's judges are: Shohreh Aghdashloo
(House of Sand and Fog, X-Men: The Last Stand), Reza Badiyi (Hawaii 5-0,
Mission: Impossible), Rainn Wilson (The Office, Juno), Omid Djalili (The Omid
Djalili Show, Pirates of the Caribbean), and Ever Carradine (Women's Murder
Club, Law & Order: CI). We are committed to having a diverse panel of judges
each year.
photocomposition©DK
DK:
This year's event wishes to celebrate Women in particular. Why so ?
SG: We
decided to articulate themes each year to focus the festival and deliver a
cohesive message. Last year's theme was Tolerance and this year we're
"Celebrating Women". By encouraging film submissions that focus on women, we
hope to amplify the female voice in filmmaking, as well as to draw attention to
women's issues.
DK: Who, when and how can
someone apply films to NFF, what are the different Award categories ?
SG: Filmmakers can download
an application from our website and submit it with their film. We purposely keep
the application fee low and do not discriminate against films based on their
country of origin, topic, style, length or any other factors. We want to
encourage all those who wish to apply. The only requirement we have is that
films cannot be religious or political in nature, or affiliated with religious
or political organizations. Submissions are judged for Best Director, Best
Documentary, Best idea/story, and audience favorite.
DK: Beyond the
films selected to date what has been the general outlook of your American
colleagues towards Iranian films but also our culture and community, be it the
Judges but also by someone like the Legendary Hollywood icon
Sydney Poitier
who accepted a special achievement Award by NFF at last year's event?
SG: The non-Iranian
community has embraced the Noor Film Festival in ways I did not imagine when we
started. Those who are jaded by politics and religious rhetoric find a cultural
exchange to be less threatening. They are open to learn about Iranians and
Iranian filmmaking. They appreciate the quality and artistic merit of the films,
and they respect the community that produced the work. The reception we received
last year was extraordinary. Our opening gala, in particular, enjoyed great
press coverage from mainstream media, like CNN, and was attended by a number of
high profile celebrities.
NFF's
Tribute to the Past and an Eye on the Future:
Siamak and Film Icon
Behrouz Vossoughi ©NFF
DK:
Although Iranian Cinema has gained global and critical recognition in the past
years, Iranian filmmakers back home including the great ones like Abbas
Kiarostami, Bahman Ghobadi, or the Makhmalbaf family are still struggling with
an often crippling censorship. For instance no real Iranian produced films truly
got noticed in Cannes in the past 3 years. What was first seen as a "creative"
constraint is now actually leading many to exile. Mohsen Makhmalbaf now works
between Paris, France and Kabul, Afghanistan,
Kiarostami is currently shooting his first film outside Iran with
Oscar® Awardee Juliette Binoche and French New Wave Star Sami Frey. Some
directors like
Niki Karimi for her film One Night have never seen their films released on
Iranian screens. Do you see NFF as a platform for showcasing such productions in
the future and even having some of these talents on board ?
SG: ABSOLUTELY!, NFF is
positioned to be the leading outlet for all Iranian filmmakers throughout the
globe. We want to give Iranians an opportunity to tell their stories.
Unfortunately, filmmakers inside Iran are not only limited in their ability to
exhibit their films, they are also limited in their ability to make them. We
hope that changes in the future so that NFF could be one of the many platforms
to showcase Iranian film and filmmakers.
photocomposition©DK
DK: As you may know
Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud's film Persepolis has had a great Box
Office and Critical acclaim both in Europe and the United States. Despite losing
to Ratatouille at the Oscars® and Golden Globes® it did nevertheless win
two French Oscars® (known as Les Césars). Has this global recognition
strengthened the Iranian American film community as to the critical and Box
Office potential of Iran-related themes that avoid social and political clichés
about Iranians in general particularly in the US ?
SG: Yes.
Persepolis is an important film for a number of reasons,
including its box office success. It showed the industry that Iranian themed
films can be commercially viable. But it wasn't the first to do this.
The House of Sand and Fog was also a successful film. It too showed an
Iranian perspective without the typical clichés. In the end, a good story, well
told will resonate with any audience. We may find, in years to come, that the
biggest contribution these films made was to inspire a new generation of Iranian
filmmakers.
photocomposition©DK
DK: Some of your partners
like
Beyond Persia,
Bebin TV are doing some excellent work in reflecting the young generation of
talents in the Diaspora. In your view how can we develop our culture outside
Iran without losing our identity?
SG: We must continue to
express ourselves and develop our culture no matter where we are. Beyond Persia
does this through its events. Bebin TV does it through its shows.
Namak magazine and
OCPC ( See March Cover Issue on NFF ) does it in print. NFF does it through
film. Each one of us explores our culture in our own distinct ways, and in doing
so, we not only preserve our identity but also expand it.
DK:
In recent years we have observed the development of Iranian cultural
organizations a little everywhere like
Roshan Institute and
PARSA in the US or
Magic of Persia, and
Iran Heritage Foundation in Great Britain. Have you considered exploring
avenues of mutual interest and cooperation in order to expand NFF outreach not
only in the US but towards Europe ?
SG: We are well connected to
Iranians throughout the Diaspora and have received film submissions from around
the globe. We hope to expand that reach to eventually showcase films in other
countries as well. Cooperating with other Iranian cultural organizations is
certainly a key to that effort.
DK:
Could you briefly summarize the major highlights of your week long Festival (
April 6th-13th,2008) ? Will the ceremonies be available
online or aired live on Satellite Televison / Radio ?
SG: The Opening Ceremony
will kick off the festival on April 6. Actor and comedian,
Maz Jobrani, will act as host. The evening will include keynote speeches,
live entertainment, dinner and dancing. We will also exhibit clips from last
year's award winners and this year's selected films. The films will be screened
on April 10-12 and the festival will wrap up with an award ceremony on April 13.
DK: Thank you
Siamak for your time and all my best wishes of success for the 2nd
Annual NFF.
©NFF
Authors Notes:
Official Website of
NFF (Noor Film Festival) and
Schedule below:
©NFF
(*)
France and America equally claim the paternity of Cinema respectively by
Lumières Bros and Thomas Edison in ~(1895-1896).
(**)The
2007 Noor Film Festival judges included:
Natasha Henstridge (Species,
The
Whole Nine Yards),
Maz Jobrani (Friday After Next, Interpreter),
Harry J. Lennix
(Matrix
Reloaded, Matrix Revolution),
Shaun Toub (Crash, The Kite Runner),Kyle
Secor (City Slickers, Commander in Chief).
Recommended Watching:
Recommended Readings:
Other Interviews:
About the
Author:
Darius KADIVAR is a Freelance Journalist, Film Historian, and Media Consultant.
He is international Correspondent for
OCPC Magazine and contributes to the
IC publications of The Middle East. and
Persian Heritage.
... Payvand News - 03/17/08 ...
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