Moshen Makhmalbaf - Locarno Festival 2020

 intervista di Michele Gavazza

We interviewed the Iranian director, writer and producer Mohsen Makhmalbaf, here's what the maestro, engaged in the jury of the Locarno Festival 2020, told us:

HM: is it your first time as a juror in a film festival? By what criteria will you judge the films of Locarno 2020?

Mohsen Makhmalbaf: I have been jury or head of jury at more than twenty Important international film festivals. Like Venice, Moscow, locarno, busan... My Criteria for judging is the necessity of the subject for today's world. And the artistic creativity of the filmmaker and originality.

HM: In your films you have often dealt with controversial topics, what makes a story interesting to tell it in a film?

Mohsen Makhmalbaf: Attraction, meaning, and magic. I have made twenty feature films and ten short and documentary films. Which were different both in terms of subject and style. From social films to poetic and philosophical films. From real style to surreal style.


HM: What did you think when your daughter told you she wanted to be a director?

Mohsen Makhmalbaf: I get sad. Because I thought in the future she will face censorship, and she need to work with producers that they love money but not Cinema.

HM: In an episode of Close up you found yourself acting for Abbas Kiarostami, how are you on the other side of the camera?

Mohsen Makhmalbaf: Kiarostami wanted to make a film about me, and I played my part in his film to help him for the reality. For me writing script, directing, editing, acting are one thing in deferent form of Art.