Malaysia’s “Ola Bola” tops at Tehran sports film festival
TEHRAN -- (Iranart)- “Ola Bola” by Chiu Keng Guan from Malaysia won the award for best film at the 11th Tehran International FICTS Festival, the organizers announced on Thursday.
Najwa Abu Bakar, Tung Yow Kong, and Datuk Steven Lim are the producers of the drama, whose story is set in the 1980s. The film was inspired by the glories of the Malaysia national football team, which successfully entered the 1980 Summer Olympics.
The winners were announced during the closing ceremony of the event, which was held at Tehran’s Olympic Hotel on Thursday.
Turgay Sahin, the producer of “One Day One Child” by Turkish director/writer Sinan Sertel, won the special jury award. Sertel was presented with the award for best screenwriter.
“One Day, One Child” focuses on Mete, a rich, successful pedagogue who cannot find true happiness despite having everything financially. The film follows Mete as he experiences a drastic change in life and perspective after he visits an orphanage.
Anushka Sharma and Salman Khan won the awards for best actress and actor respectively for their roles in “Sultan” by Ali Abbas Zafar from India.
In the documentary section, “Sachin: A Billion Dreams” by James Erskine from India was selected as the best feature-length documentary. The film also received the special jury award in this category.
“K2 and the Invisible Footmen” by director and producer Iara Lee from Pakistan and “Adventure Not War” by director Max Lowe and producer Lindsey Hagen from the U.S. shared the award for best mid-length documentary.
A lineup of feature-length, short and documentary films from around the world went on screen during the 4-day event which opened at Felestin Cinema on Monday.
In addition, a collection of sports photos by photographers from around the world were showcased in the exhibit, which opened on the sidelines of the festival.
The festival is organized by the Federation Internationale Cinema Television Sportifs (FICTS) and is a part of the World FICTS Challenge that runs in 16 countries around the world.
The festival is held in collaboration with the National Olympic and Paralympic Committee, the Ministry of Sports and Youth, IRIB and the Tehran Municipality.