Asian voices and stories to feature at S'pore film fest

A FAMILIAR face is set to return to this year's Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF). Acclaimed Iranian filmmaker Mohsen Makhmalbaf, whose works have graced previous editions, will be conferred an honorary award, while a retrospective of his films will also be screened.

The self-taught director is a major figure in Iranian cinema, having made more than 20 features since 1983 and winning over 50 awards through the decades. He was presented the prestigious Robert Bresson Award most recently at this year's Venice Film Festival. Although Makhmalbaf lives in Paris, his works continue to be influenced by his home country's often-difficult socio-political climate.

His latest film, The President, for instance, is a black comedy about a deposed dictator and his pampered six-year-old grandson who are forced to flee after his regime is toppled. It will be screened at SGIFF together with a showcase of his other award-winning films that include The Cyclist (1987), Salam Cinema (1994), Gabbeh (1995) and A Moment of Innocence (1995).