On Saturday, March 22, Farhang Foundation hosted its 6th Annual Short Film Festival Awards Ceremony at Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)
Over 500 guests were in attendance, including VIP’s such as Bita Milanian (executive director, Farhang Foundation); Oscar-nominated actress Shohreh Aghdashloo (“House of Sand and Fog”) and actor-writer-director husband Houshang Touzie (“Argo”); Shaun Toub (“Iron Man,” “Homeland”); Juror and actor Navid Negahban (“Homeland,” “24”); Mark Amin (film producer and Farhang Board member); Maestro Shardad Rohani (Award Winning Composer); the filmmakers and actors that participated in the festival, and many others.
Sooz Edie Photography
The festival kicked-off the two-day Nowruz Celebration, which is known to draw thousands of guests every year–the celebration this past weekend at LACMA is the largest Persian New Year celebration in the United States.
The winners of the 2014 Farhang Foundation Short Film Festival were announced on Saturday, March 22, 2014, during the 6th Annual Farhang Foundation Short Film festival Award Ceremony & Reception at LACMA before a live audience at the museum’s Leo S. Bing Auditorium.
First place winner was Mr. Mean (Aghaye Past) (Canada) by KAJART, earning the top prize of $10,000.
K-von Presents: “A Splash of Nowruz” (USA) by Kevan Moezzi & Steven Gute came in second place and won $5,000.
Third place winner and the recipient of $3,000 was Lady with Flower-Hair (Khanum-e Gol Mikhaki) (Iran) by Sarah Tabibzadeh.
Sooz Edie Photography
Rounding out the top six submissions of this year’s festival were Brain of Terror (USA) by Kathreen Khavari, Bride of Rain (Iran) by Ako ZandKarimi, and The Legend of Gheysar (USA) by Amirali Haghayeghi, listed in alphabetical order.
All submitted films were judged by a jury that included film industry veterans, scholars, including Mark Amin (Chair), Nazanin Boniadi, Hassan Ildari, Hamid Naficy, Navid Negahban, and Mahnaz Newman and Farhang Foundation’s Board of Trustees. Decisions were based on artistic merit, originality, creativity, storytelling, production value, and visualization of Iranian heritage. Views expressed by the filmmakers do not represent those of Farhang Foundation or its Board Members and Management.
JAVANAN MAGAZINE congratulates all the winners and participants of the Farhang Short Film Festival.