Iranian Debutante Dornaz Hajiha’s ‘Like a Fish on the Moon’ Takes Top Prize at Transilvania Film Festival
variety.comChristopher Vourlias Iranian filmmaker Dornaz Hajiha took home the top prize Saturday at the Transilvania Film Festival, as the jury awarded the first-time director with the Transilvania Trophy for “Like a Fish on the Moon,” a moving family drama about two parents coping with the emotional fallout when their young son suddenly stops talking.
In the jury’s citation, Mexican filmmaker Michel Franco highlighted “the originality of its premise, the power of its performances, and the intelligence with which it explored very difficult subject matter,” describing “Like a Fish on the Moon” as “a film that resonated long after it ended.” Hajiha was visibly moved as she took the stage to accept the award, which was presented to her by Transilvania Lifetime Achievement Award winner Geoffrey Rush moments after the Australian actor delivered an impassioned and at times whimsical tribute to the power of cinema. “It’s such an honor to get this award and thank you for your amazing speech.
I was so moved, and I’m so happy that I’m getting this award from Geoffrey Rush. And I was so happy that all the members of the jury understood this film like this,” Hajiha said, referencing the recognition given lead actress Sepidar Taherti, who shared the festival’s Best Performance Award with Nacho Quesada (“The Barbarians”). “I really think that it doesn’t matter if you’re a five-year-old kid or a 50-year-old woman.
If you are being forced to do things, even if it feels normal, you only feel suffocation and you feel trapped. And you might remain silent,” Hajiha added.
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