TEHRAN – Hooman Seyyedi’s tragicomedy “Sheeple” has won coveted awards in six categories, including best film and best director, at the 12th edition of the Celebration of Iranian Cinema Critics and Screenwriters.

Elites of Iranian cinema came together on Tuesday evening at Tehran’s Eyvan Shams Hall to take part in the gala, which is organized every year by the Society for Cinema Critics and Screenwriters.

“You critics are not the faint stars of cinema, but you show the way to us and I always follow the reviews you write about my movies,” Seyyedi said after accepting the awards best director and screenwriter.

“Sheeple” tells the story of a family of three brothers and a sister living in the slums of Tehran. The elder brother owns a drug-producing kitchen and presides over the group, like a shepherd for sheep.

The film also brought the best actor award to Navid Mohammadzadeh who won the same award for his role at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival in Estonia in early December.

“By this award, you don’t know what a weighty responsibility you put on my shoulder,” Mohammadzadeh said after receiving his award.

Farhad Aslani also received the award for best supporting actor for his role in the movie.
 
Seyyedi and Mehdi Sadi also won the award for best editor award for their collaboration in the film.

Sara Bahrami was selected as best actress for the portrayal of an isolated drug addict in “Axing”, also known as “Woodpecker”, by Behruz Shoeibi.

“I really happy to receive an award from film critics,” she said.

Sahar Dowlatshahi celebrated 18 years of her career in cinema by the award for best supporting actress for her role in “Cold Sweat”. “This year marks the 18th anniversary of my activities and I thank you for acknowledging my efforts,” she mentioned.

This year’s Best Creative and Promising Filmmaker Award, which is presented to a first-film director, went to Nima Eqlima for his debut film “Amir”.

“I feel like a schoolchild who has just received his first ‘good job!’” Eqlima exclaimed. “I’m really happy to receive my first Iranian award from this celebration.”

Saeid Malekan won the award for best makeup artist for his collaboration in the war drama “The Lost Strait”, which also brought Mohammadreza Shojaei the award for best set designer. The film’s cinematographer Hamid Khozui was also honored with an award. 

The best composer award went to Sohran Purnazeri for “Flaming” by Hamid Nematollah, while the award for best sound recording engineer was presented to Taher Pishvai and Alireza Alavian for “Damascus Time” by Ebrahim Hatamikia.

Abbas Kiarotami still lives

Forty years of Iranian children’s post-revolution cinema were also celebrated during the gala as Abbas Kiaroatmi’s acclaimed 1987 movie “Where is the Friend’s Home” was picked as best children’s film.

Baharam Beizai’s 1989 drama “Bashu, the Little Stranger” was named best young adults’ film.

The award for best director in the section was presented to Kiumars Purahmad for “The Stories of Majid”.

This section was organized to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution.

Photo: Director Hooman Seyyedi holds the awards won for his tragicomedy “Sheeple” during the 12th edition of the Celebration of Iranian Cinema Critics and Screenwriters at Tehran’s Eyvan Shams Hall on December 18, 2018. (Fars/Mehdi Marizad)

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