For a Moment, Freedom
For a Moment Freedom | |
---|---|
Directed by | Arash T. Riahi |
Produced by | Veit Heiduschka, Wega Film |
Written by | Arash T. Riahi |
Starring |
Navid Akhavan Pourya Mahyari Elika Bozorgi Sina Saba Payam Madjlessi Behi Djanati-Ataï Kamran Rad Said Oveissi Fares Fares Ezgi Asaroglu Toufan Manoutcheri Michael Niavarani Soussan Azarin Johannes Silberschneider |
Music by | Karuan |
Cinematography | Michael Riebl |
Edited by | Karina Ressler |
Distributed by | Les Films du Losange |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 110 minutes |
Country |
Austria France |
Language |
English Persian Turkish |
For a Moment Freedom (German: Ein Augenblick Freiheit; French: Pour un instant la liberté) is a 2008 film, written and directed by Austrian-Iranian filmmaker Arash T. Riahi.
Synopsis
For a Moment Freedom tells of the odyssey of three Iranians groups of refugees: a married couple with a child, two young men with two children, and two men who are friends despite the differences between them.
They have all managed to escape from Iran and Iraq, but now they are stuck in the Turkish capital; although freedom is at last almost within their grasp, first they have to wait in a dubious hotel, hoping each day that their applications for asylum will be approved. This enforced break in their journey towards independence is characterised by both hope and utter uncertainty.
The young Austrian-Iranian filmmaker Arash T. Riahi depicts the plight of people trying to flee their homeland and the curious, transitory state of asylum-seekers with tragic comedy and great suspense.
Cast
Actor | Role |
---|---|
Navíd Akhavan | Ali |
Pourya Mahyari | Mehrdad |
Elika Bozorgi | Azy |
Sina Saba | Arman |
Payam Madjlessi | Hassan |
Behi Djanati Ataï | Lale |
Kamran Rad | Kian |
Said Oveissi | Abbas |
Fares Fares | Manu |
Ezgi Asaroglu | Jasmin |
Toufan Manoutcheri | Mother of Asy and Arman |
Michael Niavarani | Father of Asy and Arman |
Soussan Azarin | Grandmother |
Muhammed Cangören | Grandfather |
Kourosh Asadollahi | Ahmad |
Halilibrahim Sahin | Son of Ahmad |
Kave Foladi | Prosecutor |
Johannes Silberschneider | Pifko |
Filming Locations
Prizes
Awards Nr. 13 & 14
10° European Cinema Festival Lecce/Italy
- Special Jury Award
- Special Audience Award
Jury
- Eva Zaoralová
- Carlos Hugo Aztarain
- Phillip Bergson
- Carlo di Carlo
- Dunja Clemens
Awards Nr. 11 & 12
5. Amazonas Filmfestival/Manaus Brasil
- Grande Premio Ficcao - Grand Prize for Best Movie
- Premio do Público Ficcao - Publics Prize
Jury
- Sir Alan Parker Director: Mississippi Burning, Midnight Express, The Commitments, Birdy)
- Neve Campbell (Actress: The Company, Wes Craven's Scream (film series), Wild Things)
- Joe Hisaishi (Composer & Director: Hana-bi, Princesse Mononoké, Sonatine, Le voyage de Chihiro)
- Parker Posey (Actress: Fay Grim, Henry Fool, Dazed and Confused, Superman Returns)
- Santiago Amigorena (Author & Director: A Few Days in September)
- Tcheky Karyo (Actor: Nikita, 1492, James Bond Goldeney)
- Malti Sahai (Festivaldirector & Curator/Indien)
- Ana Maria Magalhaes (Director & Actress: Lara, Oswaldianas)
- Mauro Lima (Director & Producer: Meu nome nao é Johnny)
Award Nr. 10
2. Festival Internacional San Luis Cine/Argentinian
- Mejor Guion - Best Screenplay
Jury
- Ben Gazzara actor, Killing of a Chinese Bookie)
- Ariana Aizemberg actress
- Analía Gadé actress
- Juan José Jusid stage director Apasionados, Made in Argentina)
- Jose F. Ludlow producer/Dozent American Film Institut, BFA California The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, Love in the Time of Cholera)
- Roberto Stabile manager of ANICA
Awards Nr. 7, 8 & 9
19. Festival International du Film D'Histoire-Pessac/France
- Prix du Jury Officiel - Main Award of the Jury
- Prix du Jury étudiant - Student Award
- Prix du Public - Publics Prize
Jury
- Mahamat-Saleh Haroun cinéaste, président du fond SUD du CNC
- Patrick Berthomeau éditorialiste au journal Sud Ouest, ancien critique de cinéma
- Caroline Huppert réalisatrice, présidente du FIPA Biarritz
- Stéphane Krémis historien, ancien directeur de la revue L’Histoire
- Hugues Pagan ancien inspecteur de police à Paris, auteur de romans policiers et scénariste de films et de séries de télévision
Awards Nr. 5 & 6
For a Moment Freedom has won two more awards at the Festival du Cinéma Européen en Essonne in France. The film was awarded both the Public Award and the Student Award. This festival, which has been running for the last ten years, specializes in political films.
the Festival du Cinéma Européen en Essonne
Jury
- Maurice Benichou actor, appeared in Caché by Michael Haneke
- Jocelyne Desverchère actress
- Jean-Pascal Hattu director
- Pierre-Yves Borgeaud director and screenwriter
- Jérôme Mallien actor
and a number of students.
Award Nr. 4
- Viennale 08-International Filmfestival - Vienna Filmaward for the best Austrian film 2008
For a Moment Freedom wins the Vienna Film Prize for the Best Austrian Film of the year at the 2008 Vienna Film Festival.
"On the basis of a majority decision the 2008 Vienna Film Prize is awarded to the feature film 'For a Moment Freedom' by Arash T. Riahi. The film deals with one of the oldest human longings - the desire for freedom, the desire to live in a better, more just place. The film produces unexpected images of freedom: a piece of paper with a visa, a smile before an execution, an embrace, a cooked swan. In a gripping juxtaposition of tragedy and humor the film succeeds in depicting the reality of people who are refugees. The film shows the happiness and unhappiness of its protagonists without changing its tone. We were impressed by the commanding narrative style as well as the performances of the actors and actresses. We would like to express our warmest congratulations to Arash T. Riahi and his team.”
Jury
The jury consisted of,
- Andrea Braidt
- Dimitré Dinev
- Michael Kerbler
- Ernst Molden
- Sylvie Rohrer
Award Nr.3
13è FESTIVAL INTERNATIONAL DES JEUNES REALISATEURS DE SAINT-JEAN-DE-LUZ
- Alain Poire Screenvision Award for Best Director
The prize is named after Alain Poire, the French producer who produced a large number of films, including works by Robert Bresson, Claude Autant-Lara and Yves Robert.
Jury
In their statement the jury praised the outstanding direction and acting as well as the universal message of the film.
- The President of the Jury was the French/Tunisian producer Ariel Zeitoun (La Banquiére, L'Homme blessé by Patrice Chérau, Le dernier gang)
- Anna Galiena actress (Jamon, Jamon by Bigas Luna, A life in Suitcases by Peter Greenaway, Trois vies et une seule mort by Raoul Ruiz)
- Carmelo Romero Spanish theatre director, curator, festival director (Institut du Cinéma et des Arts Audiovisuelles ICAA, Festival de Vallodolid, Member of the Expert Committee of the FIAPF)
- Delphine Gleize director (Carnages Un certain Regard, Cannes 2002)
- Alfred Lot screenwriter, director (Roselyne et les lions, I' AmantArtémisia)
Award Nr. 2
For a Moment Freedom was awarded the Golden Eye, the Award for the Best Debut Feature Film, at the 4th Zurich Film Festival by a jury headed by Peter Fonda. The Zurich Film Festival (ZFF) is one of the most important international festivals for young talent and is held annually in Zurich. The film festival is committed to promoting the works of young directors and screenwriters from all over the world.
Jury
"We've chosen a film that is both important and moving. Powerfully unveiling the consequences of today's politics on human lives. A talented and strong cast, compelling intertwined stories and the focus on the human experience convinced us."
- Peter Fonda actor and director/president of the jury (Easy Rider)
- Claudia Puig film critic USA Today Pulitzer prize-winner
- Hervé Schneid Editor for Sally Potter, Mike Figgis, Jean-Pierre Jeunet (Delicatessen, * Orlando, Amélie)
Stephen Nemeth founder and general manager of Rhimo Films (Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Fields of Fuel, winner of the Sundance Audience Award) - Andrea Staka director and producer (Das Fräulein won the 2006 Golden Leopard at the Locarno Film Festival)
- Michael Dougherty artist, illustrator, writer and director. (He wrote the script for the blockbusters Superman Returns (2006) and X2:X-Men United (2003))
- Dror Shaul screenwriter and director (His Sweet Mud won numerous prizes including the Sundance IFF Grand Jury Award.)
Award Nr. 1
At the renowned "A" festival, the World Film Festival in Montreal, For a Moment Freedom has won an award for the best debut feature film, the Golden Zenith for the Best First Fiction Feature Film 2008.[1]
Jury
- Pierre-Henri Deleau France
- Denis Héroux Canada
- Armand Lafond Canada