Farhadi’s A Separation wins four Asian Film Awards

Iranian director Asghar Farhadi’s A Separation has won four prizes at the Asian Film Awards, complementing its Best Foreign Language Oscar. A Separation was named best film, won the best director award for Asghar Farhadi, and also took home the best screenwriter and best editor trophies at the 6th Asian Film Awards, which was held in Hong Kong’s Harbourside Convention Center on Monday. In her acceptance speech, the movie’s lead actress, Leila Hatami, who received the best film award on behalf of Farhadi, said, “This is an absolute honor… I want to say a very sincere thank you.” The only nomination that the prize-magnet movie did not win at the gala was in the best actress category. That award went to veteran Hong Kong actress Deanie Ip for her role as a loyal servant in the film A Simple Life. Farhadi’s latest drama, which debuted in Iran under the longer title Nader and Simin: A Separation, is scheduled to be screened at Japanese movie theaters beginning in April 2012. A Separation was also nominated for the Best Original Screenplay of the 2012 Academy Awards. In addition, the film won the award for the Best Foreign Language film of the 2012 Golden Globes and received the 2012 Turkish Film Critics Association Award (SIYAD) in the same category. The movie turned heads at the 27th annual Independent Spirit Awards, where it won the Best Foreign Film Award during a ceremony held one day before the 84th Academy Awards. Farhadi’s drama also won the Best Foreign Film Award of the 2012 César Awards in Paris. Farhadi’s masterpiece received the Best Picture, Best Film Not in the English Language, Best Ensemble, and Best Original Screenplay awards of the 9th International Cinephile Society (ICS). The 2011 New York Film Critics Circle also granted its Best Foreign Film award to A Separation. A Separation has been on screen at Canadian and Brazilian cinemas since January 2012. And the movie is currently being screened at movie theaters in Australia and Singapore.