“So simple” scoops Golden George at Moscow filmfest

Iranian family drama film “So Simple” won the Best Film Golden George at the 30th Moscow International Film Festival (MIFF).

Film director and producer Reza Mirkarimi and the film star Hengameh Qaziani attended the closing ceremony held on Moscow.

In addition, the film, which was screened in MIFF under the title of “As Simple as That”, was awarded the Prize of Russian Film Critics Jury.

A production of Sureh-Mehr, which is affiliated to the Art Bureau of the Islamic Ideology Dissemination Organization, “So Simple” depicts a day in the life of Tahereh (Hengameh Qaziani), a woman from a middle class family in Iran.

In a review session of the film held during the festival, Mirkarimi said that he wanted to depict life of “a loving wife and mother, a good housewife, and an ideal neighbor.”

“I hope the achievement will be new beginning for presence of Iranian cinema in international events,” Mirkarimi told the Persian service of ISNA on Sunday.

“Almost all people commented on the film believed that they saw a film that shows a different image of Iranian family without any certain political orientation or exaggeration,” he added.

“I feel good and I was thrilled about the prizes,” Qaziani told.

“People were fascinated by Tahereh and it was very interesting for me,” she added.

“I’m very happy observing this cultural view of the rich civilization to the film,” she noted.

The film previously won the Best Film and Best Screenplay awards and Qaziani received the Best Actress award in February 2008 at the 26th Fajr International Film Festival, which is Iran’s principal film gala.

MIFF special jury prize, a Silver George, was awarded to French filmmaker Marion Laine for his “The Simple Heart” and Bulgarian helmer Javor Gardev received the Best Director Silver George for “Zift”.

Richard Jenkins won the Best Actor Silver George for his role in “The Visitor”, a film by the U.S. director Tom McCarthy and the Best Actress Silver George went to Margherita Buy for her role in “Days and Clouds”, joint production of Italy and Switzerland.

The 30th Moscow International Film Festival opened on June 19 with Peter Berg’s “Hancock”, starring Will Smith.