Although it is their debut film, Alireza Ghasemi and Raha Amirfazli brought home the Directing Award for it from the Sundance Film Festival. Now they had a chance to present the film In the Land of Brothers to the European audience for the first time at the Grand Hall of the Hotel Thermal. “I remember when I was studying film school in Iran and I saw the photographs of directors and film crews taken in this room. I am already getting goosebumps that we will be joining them soon,” Ghasemi was deeply moved when talking to the audience.
Their sombre feature film is about the sobering experience of Afghans who, after fleeing to neighbouring Iran as a “country of brothers”, encountered lack of sympathy and discrimination. Perhaps because their heroes are searching for support in the family circle, the two directors arrived in Karlovy Vary accompanied by their mothers, as well as by a large delegation. “No filmmaker can make a film without her mother,” Amirfazli said, revealing that this was a world premiere for much of the crew. “This is the first time we are presenting the film with our crew and actors. It’s a big moment for us,” the director assured the audience.
