BEST SCREENPLAY
Behnam Behzadi for ‘Tanha Do Bar Zendegui Mikonim’ (Before the Burial)
Islamic Republic of Iran
Behnam Behzadi was born in 1976 in Boroujen, Iran, and obtained a diploma in cinema from the faculty of Ceda & Cima in Tehran in 1995. He began his artistic activities in theatre and photography whilst directing shorts in 8mm and 16mm formats as well as video. Over the past few years, he has written scripts, worked in editing and collaborated with various scriptwriters including Bahman Ghobadi with whom he was co-scriptwriter for the film Nive Mang (Half Moon). Behnam Behzadi has also worked in marketing and advertising and was, for some time, artistic director of the campaign against cruelty to children.
Dervish Zaim for ‘Nokta’ (Dot)
Turkey
Born in Cyprus in 1964, Dervis Zaim majored in economics and administrative sciences at Bosphorus University, Istanbul (1983-1988) and has an MA in British cultural studies from Warwick University, UK (1993-1994). Dervis Zaim has written and directed four feature films, Somersault in a Coffin, Elephants and Grass, Mud and Waiting for Heaven. He also co-directed the documentary, Parallel Trips. His feature films have won numerous awards at international and national festivals including: for Somersault in a Coffin, Best Film at the San Francisco Film Festival and Best Film at the Oeuvres Film Festival, and for Mud, the 2003 UNESCO Award at the Venice Film Festival. He is also the winner of the Yunus Nadi Novel Prize, for his novel, Alice in Wonderland.
Eran Riklis and Suha Arraf for ‘Etz Halimon’ (Lemon Tree)
Israel/France/Germany
Eran Riklis, one of Israel’s leading filmmakers, was born in Jerusalem, raised in the USA, Canada and Brazil, and graduated from The National Film School, England in 1982. Married to Dina (a filmmaker), father of Tammy (a committed journalist) and Jonathan (a jazz pianist), Eran lives in Tel Aviv and works with the world. His film credits include: The Syrian Bride, 2004, winner of 18 international awards, and Zohar, Israel’s biggest box office success in the 90s. He has also directed and produced many TV films, series and documentaries. Lemon Tree is Riklis’ second collaboration with co-nominee, Suha Arraf. A Palestinian-Israeli, Suha is a graduate of the Tel Aviv Screenwriting Academy and has degrees from the Jerusalem and Haifa Universities. Besides The Syrian Bride and Lemon Tree collaborations with Riklis, Suha has written and directed several documentaries and worked as a journalist and researcher for many years.
Hong Sangsoo for ‘Bamgua Nat’ (Night and Day)
Republic of Korea
Born in Seoul, 1960, Hong Sangsoo entered Chung-Ang University as a theatre major but changed his major to film while in his sophomore year. In his third year, he went to the USA and received his BFA in filmmaking at the California College of Arts and Crafts, Oakland, and his MFA in filmmaking from The School of Art Institute of Chicago. He has sat as a juror at various major film festivals including Jeonju International Film Festival, Pusan International Film Festival, Karlovy Vary International Film Festival and Vancouver International Film Festival.
Max Mannix, Kiyoshi Kurosawa and Sachiko Tanaka for ‘Tokyo Sonata’
Japan/The Netherlands, Hong Kong
Max Mannix is an acclaimed screenwriter and former professional Australian rugby player who co-wrote and co-directed Dance of the Dragon and more recently was the writer/director on Rain Fall starring Gary Oldman and Kippei Shiina. Kiyoshi Kurosawa was born on July 19, 1955 in Japan and started directing 8mm independent films while studying Sociology at Rikkyo University. In 1980, his first work Shigarami Gakuen screened at PIA Film Festival. Kurosawa then spent the next few years studying with directors Kazuhiko Hasegawa and Shinji Somai. In 1983, he made his commercial debut with the feature film Kandagawa Wars. Also nominated is Sachiko Tanaka, born in Tokyo in 1972 and a graduate of the Department of Aesthetics and Art History at Tokyo University of the Arts. Sachiko studied under Kiyoshi Kurosawa at Tokyo University and this is her first feature film.