TEHRAN – Iranian director Saba Kazemi’s drama “Maat” won the Abbas Kiarostami Special Award at the 40th Mostra International Film Festival in Sao Paulo, the organizers announced on Wednesday.

The award was established this year to honor an experimental film. 

“Maat” tell the story of a group of Iranian families from different cities, which decides to migrate to the capital to solve their financial problems, which arose following the imposition of sanctions against Iran by the U.S. and Europe. However, they face a more difficult situation in the megalopolis.

The festival also paid tribute to the world-renowned Iranian filmmaker Kiarostami by screening “Take Me Home”, his documentary about the south of Italy.

In addition, “76 Minutes and 15 Seconds With Kiarostami”, a montage film made by Kiarostami’s close friend Seifollah Samadian, was screened at the event.

The award for best film went to “El Amparo”, a joint production of Venezuela and Colombia by Rober Calzadilla. The film also won the award for best screenplay.

“Gurumbé: Afro-Andalusian Memories” by Spanish director Miguel Ángel Rosales and “Mr. Gaga” from Israel, Sweden, Germany and the Netherlands by Tomer Heymann shared the Audience Award for Best Foreign Fiction.

The Critics Prize for Best Foreign Film was presented to “After the Storm” by Hirokazu Kore-eda from Japan.

Photo: This combination photo shows director Saba Kazemi and a poster for his movie “Maat”.

MMS/YAW