TEHRAN-Two Iranian films are present at the 36th Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF), which started on October 23 in Japan’s capital.

“Roxana” directed by Parviz Shahbazi and “Maria” by Mehdi Asghari-Azghadi are the Iranian feature films competing in two sections of the Japanese event, ISNA reported.

Competing in the main Competition section, “Roxana” had its world premiere at the festival on October 25. Two days later, it had a second screening and it will have another showing on October 30.

In “Roxana,” a young gambler, finds an unexpected romance with a talented girl artist. Determined to turn his life around, he strives to become a better, more useful person.

With Yasna Mirtahmasb, Mahsa Akbarabadi, and Maedeh Tahmasbi in the cast, the movie is competing with 14 other films from all over the world.

Shahbazi’s 1997 debut, “Traveler from the South,” won TIFF’s Young Cinema Competition Gold Award, and since then he has written and directed seven more films and earned writing credits on half a dozen more.

The Competition section showcases feature films that were completed after January 2023. This year TIFF received 1,942 entries from 114 countries and regions. The International Competition Jury, comprised of international cineastes, will award the prizes to the winners at the closing ceremony.
 
“Maria” is another flick from Iran, which has been selected for the Asian Future section of the festival. It will have its world premiere on October 29 and will have another screening two days after that.

The debut work of 28-year-old Asghari-Azghadi, the movie is about a filmmaker who looks for the truth about a leaked video and the disappearance of an actress.

Kamyab Geranmayeh, Pantea Panahiha, and Saber Abar are among the actors this tense suspenseful film.

The Asian Future section is dedicated to the world premiere feature screenings of 10 films by emerging Asian directors, up to their third feature film. Awards will be presented to the best films.

The motto for the Asian Future section is “From Asia to the World! From Asia to the Future!” This year marks the eleventh edition of the section since its inception at the 26th Tokyo International Film Festival in 2013. Asian Future is a competitive section that features work from up-and-coming Asian directors, including those from Japan and the West Asia, who have directed no more than three feature-length films.

The 36th Tokyo International Film Festival will run until November 1.

SS/SAB