Persian Film Festival

Persian Film Festival Australia (PFFA)
LocationAustralia
Founded2011
AwardsGolden Gazelle Award
LanguagePersian
English
Websitepersianfilmfestival.com

The Persian Film Festival Australia (PFFA), is an annual competitive film festival dedicated to showcasing works by Persian-speaking filmmakers from around the world. The festival typically takes place over ten days between April and May, presenting a curated selection of feature films, documentaries, and short films. Several awards are presented, including the Golden Gazelle Award for Best Feature Film, Best Documentary, and Best Short Film.[1]

PFFA showcases an uncensored and carefully curated selection of features, documentaries, and short films. The festival offers Australian audiences a rare and enriching opportunity to engage with captivating stories from one of the world's most esteemed cinematic traditions – films that might not otherwise reach Australian screens. As of 2011, the festival's director is Amin Palangi.

History

The Persian Film Festival Australia was founded in 2011 by Iranian-Australian filmmaker Dr Amin Palangi. The inaugural edition was held in Sydney and expanded to other Australian capital cities, hosted at Palace Cinemas.[2][3][4][5]

Since its inception the festival has been a platform for promoting Persian cinema and fostering cultural exchange between Australian and Persian-speaking communities. The festival has gained international recognition, attracting filmmakers from Iran and the broader Persian-speaking world. It has provided a space for exploring themes of identity, migration, and social issues, resonating with Australia's multicultural landscape.

PFFA has also hosted Australian premieres of films by prominent directors, including Oscar-winning filmmaker Asghar Farhadi and Academy Award nominee Mohammad Rasoulof.

Competition and film prizes

The Golden Gazelle Award, inspired by an ancient Persian winged gazelle dating back to the Achaemenid Empire (4th century BC), symbolizes artistic vitality and intuition. Each year, a jury evaluates films in competition and presents awards in the following categories:

  • Best Feature Film
  • Best Documentary
  • Best Short Film

Cultural and social impact

PFFA has been a strong advocate for Persian-speaking filmmakers who address themes of freedom and justice. Through its programming, the festival has provided a platform for untold stories and critical perspectives that might not otherwise reach Australian audiences. By bridging cultural divides, it offers a rare opportunity for audiences to engage with Persian cinema and explore universal themes of love, family, resilience, and human spirit.

Film Festival editions

  • 1st Persian Film Festival (23–26 February 2012)
  • 2st Persian Film Festival Australia (2013)
  • 3st Persian Film Festival Australia (2014)
  • 4st Persian Film Festival Australia (2015)
  • 5st Persian Film Festival Australia (2016)[6]
  • 6st Persian Film Festival Australia (2017)
  • 7st Persian Film Festival Australia (2018)[7][8]
  • 8st Persian Film Festival Australia (2019)[9][10][11][12]
  • 9st Persian Film Festival Australia (2020)[13][14][15][16]
  • 10th Persian Film Festival Australia (26 April to 7 May 2024)
  • 11th Persian Film Festival Australia (1 – 11 May 2025)

Winners of the Persian Film Festival Australia (PFFA)

Year Film Director Nationality Category Ref
2012 Please Don't Disturb Mohsen Abdolvahab Iran Feature
The Silly Amir Azizi Iran Short
2016 The Salesman Asghar Farhadi Iran Feature
500 Ounces of Gold Shahrzad Dadgar Iran Short
2017 Parting Navid Mahmoudi Iran Feature [17][18][19]
Save Me Mohsen Nabavi Iran Short
2018 Dressage Pooya Badkoobeh Iran Feature [20][21][22]
Heyvan (Animal) Bahman Ark, Bahram Ark Iran Short
2019 Seven and a Half Navid Mahmoudi Iran Feature [23]
Shouting at the Wind Siavash Jamali, Ata Mehrad Iran Documentary
Tattoo Farhad Delaram Iran Short
2020 Pari Siamak Etemadi Greece Feature [24][25]
Exam Sonia K Haddad Iran Short
2021 Festival cancelled due to the COVID-19 outbreak
2022
2023 Opponent Milad Alami Sweden Feature [26]
I'm Trying to Remember Pegah Ahangarani Iran Short

See also

References

  1. ^ "Persian Film Festival Australia". FilmFreeway. 1 April 2024. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  2. ^ Admin. "The Festival". Persian Film Festival Australia. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  3. ^ "Top 5 Persian Films of All Time". SBS What's On. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  4. ^ "بررسی دهمین جشنواره فیلم پارسی با امین پلنگی". صدای استرالیا (in Persian). 25 April 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  5. ^ "Plucky kids, determined women and protest directors: the Persian Film Festival Selects collection". SBS What's On. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  6. ^ ایران, عصر. "«ناهید»در جشنواره فیلم پارسی استرالیا". fa (in Persian). Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  7. ^ "'Dressage' wins Golden Gazelle Award at 7th Persian Filmfest". Mehr News Agency. 3 September 2018. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  8. ^ "'Run, Rostam, Run' finds way into three more international festivals". IRNA English. 17 September 2018. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  9. ^ "آثار راه یافته جشنواره فیلم «پارسی» استرالیا اعلام شد". خبرگزاری مهر | اخبار ایران و جهان | Mehr News Agency (in Persian). 10 November 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  10. ^ "معرفی تمام برگزیدگان جشنواره‌ی جهانی فیلم پارسی استرالیا". ایسنا (in Persian). 9 December 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  11. ^ "برگزیدگان جشنواره‌ جهانی فیلم پارسی استرالیا معرفی شدند | پایگاه خبری تحلیلی سینما سینما". cinemacinema.ir. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  12. ^ Gall, Naomi (8 December 2019). "Film Review: Suddenly A Tree – personal narratives run deep at Persian Film Festival". The AU Review. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  13. ^ "اعلام فهرست فیلم‌های کوتاه نهمین جشنواره جهانی فیلم پارسی استرالیا". اعتمادآنلاین (in Persian). 13 February 2025. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  14. ^ "نهمین جشنواره جهانی فیلم پارسی آذرماه برگزار می‌شود". اعتمادآنلاین (in Persian). 13 February 2025. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  15. ^ "داوران جشنواره جهانی فیلم پارسی استرالیا معرفی شدند + تصویر". اعتمادآنلاین (in Persian). 13 February 2025. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  16. ^ ""Pari" crowned best at Sydney Persian film festival". Tehran Times. 7 December 2020. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  17. ^ ""Parting" crowned best at Sydney Persian filmfest". Tehran Times. 11 September 2017. Retrieved 26 February 2025.
  18. ^ Titrhonar (11 September 2017). "«رفتن» فیلم برگزیده جشنواره جهانی فیلم پارسی". پایگاه خبری تیترهنر (in Persian). Retrieved 26 February 2025.
  19. ^ "فیلم «رفتن» – کابلستان" (in Persian). Retrieved 26 February 2025.
  20. ^ "«درساژ» غزال طلایی را تصاحب کرد". www.khabaronline.ir. Retrieved 26 February 2025.
  21. ^ "«درساژ» غزال طلایی جشنواره جهانی فیلم پارسی را تصاحب کرد". چارسو پرس پایگاه خبری تئاتر و سینما (in Persian). Retrieved 26 February 2025.
  22. ^ "جایزه اصلی جشنواره فیلم‌های ایرانی پراگ به "درساژ" رسید". خبرگزاری هنر ایران (in Persian). 26 February 2025. Retrieved 26 February 2025.
  23. ^ "رونمایی از آنونس فیلم سینمایی «هفت و نیم» + فیلم". ایسنا (in Persian). 29 May 2020. Retrieved 26 February 2025.
  24. ^ ""پری"، زنی ایرانی با چادر در میان روسپی‌های آتن – DW – ۱۳۹۸/۱۲/۱۰". dw.com (in Persian). Retrieved 26 February 2025.
  25. ^ "پایان جشنواره فیلم پارسی با اهدای جایزه به «پری»". www.khabaronline.ir. Retrieved 26 February 2025.
  26. ^ "«دشمن» ساخته میلاد عالمی: جدال یک ورزشکار پناهجو با درون و بیرون". www.radiozamaneh.com (in Persian). 21 February 2023. Retrieved 26 February 2025.
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