Bahman Farmanara

Bahman Farmanara started his film career with the popular TV series “House of Qamar Khanom”, which was later adapted to his first feature film in 1972. His recognition as a pioneer of the Iranian New Wave Cinema came with his second feature film “Prince Ehtijab” based on a novel by renowned Iranian writer Houshang Gulshiri. The film won the Grand Prix at the International Tehran Film Festival. He collaborated with Gulshiri one more time in “The Tall Shadows of the Wind”. The film was acclaimed at Cannes’ Critics’ Week but was never released.

Farmanara immigrated to Canada in 1980s and established his own production company before working as an Executive Vice President at Cineplex Odeon. On his return to Iran in late 90s, he made his next film “Smell of Comphore, Fragrance of Jasmine” in 2000 after twenty years. The film won eight awards at the Fajr Film Festival and the Special Jury Prize from the Montreal Film Festival. “A House on Water” is known as one of the most controversial films after the revolution. His last two films “A Little Kiss” and “Earthbound” have not yet been released. Tirgan will present a screening of “The Tall Shadows of the Wind” (in Persian with English subtitle) followed by Q&A period with the director.