Canadian Premiere

Mitra Farahani, an Iranian director educated in both Tehran and Paris, has a mission: to introduce Iranian filmmaker and author Ebrahim Golestan to pioneer of the French New Wave, Jean-Luc Godard. Rather than a chat over espresso, the two men write letters back and forth like philosophic pen pals, full of poetic contemplations, cryptic riddles, and mutual reverence. Golestan, well into his nineties, wanders around his living space and rambles on as if a child, fascinated by his surroundings and the great unknown. Godard, with whom Farahani has worked with in the past, looms over the scene as a shadow, unseen until he appears wearing a simple fedora and cardigan as if he were a regular old man who didn’t revolutionize an entire art form by the age of 30.

The pair relay their inner philosophies to an intrigued Farahani, who in turn offers such inquiries as, “What use is being a poet in a time of distress?” Determined to harness their creativity and live as they did in their youth, they too are motivated by curiosity but are routinely interrupted by the mundane: a ringing phone, a vacuum, a particularly loud sneeze, all indicating the challenge of living as an artist in the modern world.

Award: Special Jury Award (Encounter), Berlin 2022

North American Premiere

Introspective and subtle, No Prior Appointment tells the story of an Iranian immigrant who, after 30 years, is compelled to return to her home country upon learning of her estranged father’s death. She hastily takes leave from her work as a doctor in Germany, bringing her young autistic son with her. Director Behrooz Shoaibi explores the ideas of return, leftover threads of memory of a land, and the sense of self that was once left behind. With nuanced grace, the film explores the longing for homeland, the questions of belonging, and the strange sense of homecoming upon return to the country of your childhood.

Pegah Ahangarani leads the film with her steady presence. Filled with fascinating, warm characters, No Prior Appointment provides a vibrant glimpse of Iran. Chosen by the Iranian National Commission for UNESCO as film of the year for its portrayal of autism, and nominated for Best Director, Best Cinematography, and Best Screenplay at the 2022 Fajr Film Festival.