Iran’s top festival shines spotlight on award-winning Georgian film

Cinema-lovers visiting Iran's largest annual film festival next week will be able to see an award-winning Georgian film about the challenges facing a struggling musician.

Solomon, a feature film by Georgian filmmaker Zaza Khalvashi, was selected as one of 46 films from all over the world to screen at the 34th Fajr International Film Festival.

Held from April 20-25 in Tehran, the international film festival will also include films from France, India, New Zealand, Mexico and more.

Khalvashi's work has gained praise since its release, which culminated last year when it won the 2015 Tbilisi International Film Festival's National Competition.

The 70-minute film was a story about a talented but unknown musical artist struggling against indifference in cities of Georgia's Black Sea coastline, where the only person who can relate to him is his daughter living in an orphanage.

A still from director Zaza Khalvashi's film 'Solomon'. Screenshot from the trailer for the film.

Khalvashi cast local actors Solomon Makharadze, Natalia Diasamidze and Nina Chkhikvadze in the film’s leading roles.

See the trailer for director Zaza Khalvashi's film 'Solomon' below:

The Fajr Film Festival will also include sections for short films and documentary cinema.

Founded in 1982, the Fajr International Film Festival has evolved into the largest annual film festival in the country. The event’s organisers said the festival "celebrates cultural exchange" and "pays tribute to quality local and international films".

The full festival program can be found on the official website here.