For a Moment, Freedom

For a Moment Freedom (German: Ein Augenblick Freiheit; French: Pour un instant la liberté) is a 2008 film, written and directed by Austrian-Iranian filmmaker Arash T. Riahi.

For a Moment Freedom
Directed byArash T. Riahi
Produced byVeit Heiduschka, Michael Katz, Wega Film, Margaret Menegoz, Les Films du Losange
Written byArash T. Riahi
StarringNavid Akhavan
Pourya Mahyari
Elika Bozorgi
Sina Saba
Payam Madjlessi
Behi Djanati-Ataï
Kamran Rad
Said Oveissi
Fares Fares
Ezgi Asaroglu
Toufan Manoutcheri
Michael Niavarani
Soussan Azarin
Johannes Silberschneider
Music byKaruan
CinematographyMichael Riebl
Edited byKarina Ressler
Distributed byLes Films du Losange
Release date
  • 29 August 2008 (2008-08-29) (WFF)
  • 9 January 2009 (2009-01-09) (Austria)
  • 28 January 2009 (2009-01-28) (France)
Running time
110 minutes
CountryAustria
France
LanguageEnglish
Persian
Turkish

Synopsis

For a Moment Freedom tells of the odyssey of three Iranians groups of refugees: a married couple with a child, two young men with two children, and two men who are friends despite the differences between them.

They have all managed to escape from Iran and Iraq, but now they are stuck in the Turkish capital; although freedom is at last almost within their grasp, first they have to wait in a dubious hotel, hoping each day that their applications for asylum will be approved. This enforced break in their journey towards independence is characterised by both hope and utter uncertainty.

The young Austrian-Iranian filmmaker Arash T. Riahi depicts the plight of people trying to flee their homeland and the curious, transitory state of asylum-seekers with tragic comedy and great suspense.

Cast
Actor Role
Navíd AkhavanAli
Pourya MahyariMehrdad
Elika BozorgiAzy
Sina SabaArman
Payam MadjlessiHassan
Behi Djanati AtaïLale
Kamran RadKian
Said OveissiAbbas
Fares FaresManu
Ezgi AsarogluJasmin
Toufan ManoutcheriMother of Asy and Arman
Michael NiavaraniFather of Asy and Arman
Soussan AzarinGrandmother
Muhammed CangörenGrandfather
Kourosh AsadollahiAhmad
Halilibrahim SahinSon of Ahmad
Kave FoladiProsecutor
Johannes SilberschneiderPifko

Filming Locations

Prizes
  • 2010 Tromsø International Film Festival's audience award
  • Special Jury Award and Special Audience Award at 10° European Cinema Festival Lecce[1]
  • Grande Premio Ficcao - Grand Prize for Best Movie and Premio do Público Ficcao - Publics Prize at the Amazonas Filmfestival/Manaus Brasil [2]
  • Mejor Guion - Best Screenplay at 2. Festival Internacional San Luis Cine/Argentinian [3]
  • 19. Festival International du Film D'Histoire-Pessac/France
  • Prix du Jury Officiel - Main Award of the Jury, Prix du Jury étudiant - Student Award, Prix du Public - Publics Prize

For a Moment Freedom has won two more awards at the Festival du Cinéma Européen en Essonne in France. The film was awarded both the Public Award and the Student Award. This festival, which has been running for the last ten years, specializes in political films.

For a Moment Freedom won the Vienna Film Prize for the Best Austrian Film of the year at the 2008 Vienna Film Festival.[4]

The prize is named after Alain Poire, the French producer who produced a large number of films, including works by Robert Bresson, Claude Autant-Lara and Yves Robert.

For a Moment Freedom was awarded the Golden Eye, the Award for the Best Debut Feature Film, at the 4th Zurich Film Festival by a jury headed by Peter Fonda. The Zurich Film Festival (ZFF) is one of the most important international festivals for young talent and is held annually in Zurich. The film festival is committed to promoting the works of young directors and screenwriters from all over the world.

Zurich Film Festival

At the renowned "A" festival, the World Film Festival in Montreal, For a Moment Freedom has won an award for the best debut feature film, the Golden Zenith for the Best First Fiction Feature Film 2008.[5]

References
  1. 10° European Cinema Festival Lecce/Italy
  2. 5. Amazonas Filmfestival/Manaus Brasil
  3. 2. Festival Internacional San Luis Cine/Argentinian
  4. "On the basis of a majority decision the 2008 Vienna Film Prize is awarded to the feature film 'For a Moment Freedom' by Arash T. Riahi. The film deals with one of the oldest human longings - the desire for freedom, the desire to live in a better, more just place. The film produces unexpected images of freedom: a piece of paper with a visa, a smile before an execution, an embrace, a cooked swan. In a gripping juxtaposition of tragedy and humor the film succeeds in depicting the reality of people who are refugees. The film shows the happiness and unhappiness of its protagonists without changing its tone. We were impressed by the commanding narrative style as well as the performances of the actors and actresses. We would like to express our warmest congratulations to Arash T. Riahi and his team."
  5. The World Film Festival in Montreal Archived 7 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine
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