11 · 05 · 12

Abbas Kiarostami receives UNAM Film Archive award

Daniela Michel, general director of FICM, said it was an honor to give this award to the celebrated director at the festival's 10th anniversary. She turned the microphone over to Guadalupe Ferrer, director of the film archive, who presented the award and defined the filmmaker as an artist in every sense of the word. "The humanism and love of reality emblematic of his cinematographic work, with its austere and rigorous look, allows us to penetrate the complexity that characterizes human beings who, although they may appear to be simple, become, thanks to him, true heroes by the mere fact of simply existing."

Abbas Kiarostami said, "When they gave me this award they said some words that I don't think I deserve, but I thank you very much. This is the second time Mexico has given me an award for my work. In 1975, the first international award that I received was at the International Film Festival of Mexico." The director mentioned that he has donated all of his awards to a film museum, but that this prize will join the other Mexican award that he keeps in a special place in his home.

After the presentation of the UNAM Film Archive award, the film Copie Conforme / Copia Fiel (2010) was screened. It is the first film the director made outside of Iran, and with an internationally acclaimed star like Juliette Binoche. In addition to Copia Fiel, the director's films Nema-ye Nazdik / Close-up (1990), Ta’m e guilass / Taste of Cherry (1997) and ABC Africa / ABC Africa (2001) will also be presented at the 10th edition of FICM.