posted February 13, 2001 09:46               

Majidi expressed his admiration for Hatamikia, whose "Dead Wave" covers the life of Mohsen Rezai, a former member of the elite Revolutionary Guards whose son eventually leaves for the United States.

The Revolutionary Guards banned the film, saying it made "too many analogies."

The annual Fijr film festival awarded its top prize to Majidi for "The Rain", a movie that focuses on Iranian social life, particularly the high unemployment and exploitation of Afghan refugees, who in the film work as
masons for Tehran's tall buildings.

The week long festival also gave director Bahran Beizai, a pioneer of Iranian cinema, the prize for best scenario for his movie "The Dog Massacre."

The film portrayed a woman who leaves her unfaithful husband, who is later thrown into prison as a debtor.

The festival also honored the French director Claire Denis for the 1999 film "Beau Travail".