TEHRAN-Three Iranian short films will compete in the 13th South Asian Film Festival of Montreal (SAFFM), due to be held from May 24 to June 2 in Montreal, Canada.

“Amourgh” directed by Mohsen Ghezel Soflu, “Survivor” by Karim Azimi, and “The Steak” by Kiarash Dadgar Mohebi are the Iranian flicks in the Online Shorts section of the festival.

In “Amourgh,” also known as “Hen-Fatuation,” Sadegh, separated from his wife, believes nobody understands neither his word nor his feelings. He buys a hen, brings it home, and begins to talk to her. Sadegh feels as if he has found someone who understands him, ILNA reported.

Running for 20 minutes, the short fiction is a production of 2022 with Hossein Monfared, Negar Salahshoor, Alireza Haghparast, Mahan Arrafi, Ali Hadipour, and Mohammad Abdolvand in the cast. 

“Survivor” tells the story of a young couple waiting with other immigrants to cross the sea, but they face problems when their baby is born.

The 14-minute fiction was produced in 2023. Sadegh Molaei, Sayeh Abbaspour, Nader Mehdilou, Samad Vahedizadeh, and Gunas Elgin play in the film.

“The Steak” depicts a birthday ceremony preparation getting upside down as something horrible takes place.

A production of 2023, the 8-minute flick has Faranak Khamis, Panisa Peyvaght, Amin Simiar, Mehran Naabi, and Ali Narimani.

Organized by Montreal's Kabir Center for Arts and Culture, the 13th South Asian Film Festival of Montreal is a hybrid (in-cinema and online) festival seeking to promote, foster, and enhance cultural harmony between a diverse South Asian community and present a unique opportunity for cross-cultural interactions between two major geographical regions- South Asia and Quebec, along with the larger Canadian society. 

While the festival acts as a platform to connect the South Asian diaspora and acquaint Western audiences with the rich heritage of cultural diversity in South Asia, it is also committed to combating stereotypes, prejudice, and bias of any kind, particularly in relation to South Asia.

The festival aims to break stereotypical understandings of South Asia and its people by showcasing films that highlight stories of the common everyday lives of people in the region, capturing their struggles, resilience, and indomitable spirit through documentaries, short films, and fiction features. These efforts of promoting cultural awareness do not stop as the film screenings end but are carried forward through stimulating discussions with our panelists after the screening. The panels include filmmakers, actors, academics, writers, activists, community workers along with film critics.

The festival will be hosted by Cinémathèque Québécoise, Montreal, and Saguenay in northern Quebec.

SS/SAB