Winners (2022 film)

Winners (Persian: برنده‌ها) is a 2022 British Persian-language[1] drama film written and directed by Hassan Nazer.[2] The plot follows two children from a small Iranian community who discover the lost Academy Award statuette of Asghar Farhadi.[3] It was selected as the British entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 95th Academy Awards, but was not nominated.[4]

Winners
Theatrical release poster
Directed byHassan Nazer
Written byHassan Nazer
Produced byMohsen Mosaferchi
Nadira Murray
Paul Welsh
StarringParsa Maghami
Helia Mohammadkhani
Hossein Abedini
CinematographyArash Seifi
Arash Seyfijamadi
Edited byHamid Bashe Ahangar
David Arthur
Reza Jouze
Hassan Nazer
Music byMohsen Amini
Mohammad Saeed Shayan
Production
companies
Edge City Films
Screen Scotland
Sylph Productions
World Film Production
Release date
August 2022 (EIFF)
Running time
85 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguagePersian

Synopsis

In a small provincial Iranian town, the children work hard to support their families. One day nine-year-old Yahya and his friend Leyla find a precious statue. Sharing a passion for cinema, Yahya's boss Naser Khan (Reza Naji) decides to help them find the owner.[5]

Cast

The actors participating in this film are:[3]

  • Parsa Maghami as Yahya
  • Helia Mohammadkhani as Leyla
  • Hossein Abedini as Saber
  • Mahmoud Jafari as Driver
  • Shahrzad Kamalzadeh as Mrs. Sadeghi
  • Reza Naji as Naser Khan
  • Ezzatollah Ramazanifar as Uncle Ezzat
  • Asghar Semsarzade as Antique Dealer
  • Martine Malalai Zikria as Mother

Production

Script

Hassan Nazer had the conceptual idea for the film from a very young age, but it wasn't until Trump's travel ban prevented eventual winner Asghar Farhadi from picking up his Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film for The Salesman in February of 2017.[6][7]

Filming

Winners was financed, developed and post-produced in Scotland and shot on Iranian territory.[8]

Release

The film had its world premiere at the Edinburgh International Film Festival in August 2022, where it won the Audience Award.[9]

Reception

Critical reception

Deadline's Anna Smith wrote: "Winners, is an ode to cinema and the joys it brings, and it also pays tribute to the great achievements of Iranian filmmakers, dedicating the work to Abbas Kiarostami, Asghar Farhadi, Majid Maijdi and Jafar Panahi. But it also highlights the contrast between film festival plaudits and real life: what the cast and crew are left with once the party’s over."[10] Screendaily's Fionnula Halligan wrote: "Ostensibly a film in the vein of Cinema Paradiso — which it references on several occasions — this is a curio for cineastes and festivalgoers, especially given the presence of Reza Naji in a lead role... Visually, Winners also harks back to the distinctive work of the Iranian New Wave; to Kiarostami and Makhmalbaf and everyone who came before. One thing is for sure: Nazer, and everyone in his film, loves Iranian cinema."[11]

Accolades
Year Award Category Recipient Result Ref.
2022 British Independent Film Awards 2022 Breakthrough Producer Nadira Murray Won [12]
The Raindance Discovery Award Hassan Nazer, Nadira Murray, Paul Welsh Won
Edinburgh International Film Festival Audience Award Winners Won [13]
Raindance Film Festival Best UK Feature Winners Won [14]

References
  1. "Persian-language drama "Winners" represents UK at Oscar intl. feature section". Tehran Times. 2022-10-21. Retrieved 2023-02-23.
  2. Scotland, Screen (2022-08-04). "Winners from Aberdeen-based Director Hassan Nazer to premiere at EIFF 2022". Screen Scotland. Retrieved 2023-02-23.
  3. "Winners, A Lost Oscar Statuette Becomes A Symbol For Iran's Repressed Talent". Cinema Daily US. 2022-12-14. Retrieved 2023-02-23.
  4. Ntim, Zac (2022-10-19). "Oscars: UK Selects Hassan Nazer's Farsi Language Feature 'Winners' To International Feature Race". Deadline. Retrieved 2023-02-23.
  5. "Winners". Cineuropa - the best of european cinema. Retrieved 2023-02-23.
  6. ""Freedom of speech seems to be a global problem": Hassan Nazer talks about his film 'Winners'". www.mime.news. Retrieved 2023-02-23.
  7. "Edinburgh International Film Festival diary: 13 August". The Scotsman. Retrieved 2023-02-23.
  8. "Oa Produced Feature Film Submitted To Oscars". www.staloysius.org. Retrieved 2023-02-23.
  9. "Edinburgh International Film Festival diary: 13 August". The Scotsman. Retrieved 2023-02-23.
  10. Smith, Anna (2022-08-16). "Edinburgh Film Festival Review: Hassan Nazer's 'Winners'". Deadline. Retrieved 2023-02-23.
  11. Halligan2022-08-15T17:26:00+01:00, Fionnuala. "'Winners': Edinburgh Review". Screen. Retrieved 2023-02-23.
  12. Tabbara2022-12-04T19:30:00+00:00, Mona. "'Aftersun' shines as big winner of 2022 Bifas". Screen. Retrieved 2023-02-23.
  13. Ntim, Zac (2022-08-24). "Edinburgh Film Festival Winners: 'A Cat Called Dom' Takes Inaugural Powell And Pressburger Award For Best Film". Deadline. Retrieved 2023-02-23.
  14. Raindance (2022-11-04). "30th Raindance Film Festival Award Winners". Raindance. Retrieved 2023-02-23.
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