The Hindu Business Line : Cut to Persia

Niki Karimi, well-known Iranian actress and film director, was in Goa recently as a jury member at the 39th International Film Festival of India (IFFI). Niki, 37, has acted in over 20 movies, and directed two feature films and a documentary. She has been on the jury of several international film festivals, including the Cannes last year.

She was barely 18 when she acted in her first movie, Temptation, in 1989. The famous Iranian actor Jamshid Heidary offered her the role after he noticed her talent in a school play.

Niki has won the best actress award at five different international film festivals.

In 2001 she made a film called To Have and Have Not about women who need medical treatment to become fertile. She won her first award for direction at ‘The Rain’ festival in Iran.

Her film One Night won a nomination at Cannes in 2005, while her script for A Few Days Later won an award at the Rotterdam film festival in 2006.

She has written screenplays for three films, and translated Marlon Brando’s autobiography and Pakistani writer Hanif Kureishi’s book Intimacy.

Two of the films in which she has acted were screened at the IFFI, where she received compliments from several Indian film personalities, including actor Victor Banerjee. These films have been screened at film festivals in France and the UK as well, but are yet to be released commercially in Iran.

Censorship

She laments that with growing censorship in her country, filmmakers there do not have the freedom to make films of their choice. “The situation in Iran has worsened in recent months and is threatening the very existence of cinema. It’s an unpleasant time, and we are all hoping for an improvement,” she says. Her films, which are mostly short — less than 90 minutes — have so far remained unaffected by the censorship, she says.

With members of her family living either in England or the US, Niki shuttles between Tehran and London.

IFFI and Goa

Asked to compare the IFFI with her experience at the Cannes, Niki is full of praise for Goa’s scenic beauty. “IFFI’s reputation as one of the oldest international film festivals in Asia and Africa will attract much greater global attention in the years to come,” she says.

She, however, adds that there is need for good programming and careful selection of quality films by professional cineastes. This will attract the best in the film industry both at home and abroad.

She hesitates to name any favourite Indian film, director or actor, citing her role as a jury member. She is, however, awed by the fact that India churns out nearly 1,000 films each year — more than any other country — and says she felt honoured to be invited by such a country.

It’s an enriching experience to be on the jury, she says. “You get to know the other members from other parts of the world, share your thoughts and exchange ideas with them.

I found working with Indian actress Tabu on the jury great fun. She is such a lovely actress and a fine human being.”

Her country makes about 70 films a year and there are only a few women filmmakers. Niki is delighted that Indian films, mostly Bollywood, are shown in her country. “Besides, there are DVDs, satellite TV channels and other such options available when it comes to picking good Indian films in Iran.”

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