The Galway Film Fleadh has announced that filmmaker Mohsen Makhmalbaf will attend this year’s festival where he will receive the Galway Hooker Award, the Fleadh’s highest honour.
He will also be the subject of this year’s Directors Masterclass in partnership with Screen Training Ireland and the Fleadh will host the Irish Premiére of Makhmalbaf’s latest film, ‘The President’, at 8pm on Thursday 9th July at the Town Hall Theatre.
Born in Tehran in 1957, Makhmalbaf’s award winning earlier works include ‘Salaam Cinema’ (1995), ‘A Moment of Innocence’ (1996), ‘Gabbeh’ (1996) and ‘Kandahar’ (2001).
Fighting for democracy, Mohsen was shot by the police at the age of 17 and spent almost five years in political prison. After his release he continued his struggle in search of democracy and equality through his activities in literature and films.
Makhmalbaf has also taught his three children about the art of cinema. His daughter Samira, holds the record for the youngest filmmaker to have been selected for the official selection of Cannes, at the age of 17, with her debut titled The Apple. Hana, Makhmalbaf’s younger daughter, won the Crystal Bear of Berlin and the Grand Jury Prize of San Sebastian Film Festival with her first feature film.
The Directors Masterclass will be moderated by Kieron J. Walsh. A graduate of the Royal College of Art and a member of BAFTA, Kieron has directed films for the BBC, Working Title, Channel 4, Granada and RTE. In 2006, he founded Blinder Films to develop and produce drama and documentary for domestic and international audiences. The Masterclass will take place on Friday the 10th of July from 10am – 1pm in the Radisson Blu Hotel, Galway.
The Irish Premiere of ‘The President’ will take place on Thursday 9th July in the Town Hall Theatre, Galway at 8pm.
Mohsen Makhmalbaf will be presented with the Galway Hooker Award at the Galway Film Fleadh’s Closing Night Awards Ceremony on Sunday 12th July at 7:15pm in the Town Hall Theatre.
For further information on Mohsen Makhmalbaf at the Film Fleadh, or to apply for a place in the Directors Masterclass, please see www.galwayfilmfleadh.com.