The Archive continues its long tradition of celebrating the best cinema from Iran and the Iranian diaspora with the latest edition of its annual survey of works by Iranian filmmakers, past and present. This year, the program illuminates the latest cinematic trends with several comedies and outright satires appearing in the lineup alongside gripping dramas and documentaries that explore the complex realities of Iran’s contemporary moment and the difficult history that shaped it. We are also pleased to present new restorations of two landmark works by two founding filmmakers of the pre-revolution Iranian New Wave, Forough Farrokhzad and Ebrahim Golestan, whose significant contributions have been overlooked owing to the inaccessibility of their films. This year the Archive also deepens its successful partnership with Farhang Foundation, the sole sponsor of the UCLA Celebration of Iranian Cinema, by including among the program’s feature films, a selection of prize-winning short films from the 2018 edition of the Farhang Foundation Short Film Festival, among other short works presented over the course the series. As in past years, it is anticipated that some filmmakers will appear in person, wherever possible, to discuss their work.
All films from Iran and in Farsi with English subtitles, except where noted.
Program generously funded by Farhang Foundation.