In
the past it has been the Fajr International
Film festival rather than Berlin's notoriously
cold weather that has kept Iran's Farabi Cinema
Foundation from exhibiting at the European Film
Market.
But
for the first time in many years Farabi is back,
representing a number of Iranian films in Panorama
and in the Kinderfilmfest such as Majid Majidi's
The Colour Of Paradise, which
is this year's Iranian foreign Oscar submission.
The
company, which is affiliated to Iran's ministry
of culture, mostly focuses on promoting Iranian
cinema. But as acquisitions man Shahin Bazil
is keen to point out: "Farabi does almost everything."
The company also produces, supports Iranian
film festivals, finances, sells and acquires
film for the Iranian market. Recent acquisitions
include The Straight Story, Ghost
Dog and Grey Owl.
"We
do still have some restrictions as regards nudity,"
says Bazil. "But otherwise Iran is open and
welcomes films from nationalities such as the
US."
Liza
Foreman
