World Cinema Fund to support Iranian film project

An Iranian cinematic production is among the projects to be funded by the Berlinale World Cinema Fund (WCF).
In the 39th jury session of the WCF, the juries made 14 funding recommendations for projects from 13 countries including Iran, Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Egypt, Nigeria, Senegal and Thailand among others, ISNA reported on Sunday.
The Iranian film in the list is “Boomerang” directed by Shahab Fotouhi and produced by Rainy Pictures film company founded by filmmaker Majib Barzegar, which will receive €۳۰,۰۰۰ (around $33,000).
“Looking at the outcome of the most recent WCF jury meeting, we are amazed: these future films display strength, courage and astonishing creativity. Most of the funded WCF projects delve deep into our world and its multifaceted complexity: Cinematic views of a world that is hard to decipher, often with characters who may live a long way away from us and yet seem very familiar. This is cinema as empathy and empathy as a cross-border take on life. We are delighted to support these projects,” commented Vincenzo Bugno, head of WCF, on the funding recommendations.
The WCF jury made its selection from 194 submitted projects from a total of 62 countries. The current funding pot of eleven production and three distribution grants amounts to a total of 360,000 euros ($394,000).
Majid Barzegar, 50, is an Iranian film director, producer, screenwriter, and photographer. He established his own film company Rainy Pictures in 2005 with the aim of stimulating the independent film production in Iran.
He has been a major force behind the development and production of a great number of Iranian independent short and feature films, most of which have been showcased and awarded at prestigious international film festivals including Berlinale, San Sebastian, Rotterdam, São Paulo, Thessaloniki and many more.
Founded in 2004, the World Cinema Fund was initiated by the German Federal Cultural Foundation and the Berlin International Film Festival. It quickly established itself as one of the leading institutions in the field of international film funding for artistic and innovative productions.
The WCF concentrates on backing the production and distribution of films from Latin America, the Caribbean and the Pacific region, Africa, the West, Central and Southeast Asia, the Caucasus, as well as Bangladesh, Nepal, Mongolia and Sri Lanka.
The WCF provides support in the fields of production, post-production and distribution for feature length films and creative documentary features. All WCF films completed to date have screened at cinemas and/or in the programs of renowned festivals. Many have also won significant prizes, proof of the worldwide success of the initiative.