TEHRAN – A lineup of Iranian movies are currently on screen at the Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF), which opened in Melbourne, Australia on July 28.

Asghar Farhadi’s acclaimed drama “The Salesman” is a highlight of the lineup. The social drama won awards for best screenplay and best actor at the 69th Cannes Film Festival in May.

Also among the films are “A Dragon Arrives” by Mani Haqiqi and the joint Iranian-American production “Radio Dreams” by Babak Jalali.

Earlier in February, “Radio Dreams” won the Tiger Award at the Rotterdam Film Festival.

The lineup also includes two acclaimed documentaries, Mehrdad Oskui’s “Starless Dreams” and Rokhsareh Qaem-Maqami’s “Sonita”.

“Starless Dreams” is the winner of the Amnesty International Film Prize at the 2016 Berlin Film Festival and the True Vision Award at the 2016 True/False Film Festival while “Sonita” has received the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance Film Festival and Audience Award at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam.

Around 360 movies from over 60 countries are at the festival that runs until August 14.

Photo: Shahab Hosseini (L) and Taraneh Alidusti in a scene from "The Salesman"

ABU/YAW