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| Anaita Wali Zada in Fremont Photo: Modern Films |
Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) has announced it will close with the UK premiere of Babak Jalali’s Fremont.
The film centres on troubled 20-something Donya, played in a breakout debut performance by former TV journalist Anaita Wali Zada, who, like her character in the film, was forced to flee Afghanistan. Donya is an Afghan translator whose work for the US Government has led to her becoming lost and adrift in the titular Californian town.
Donya takes a new job writing the fortunes at a fortune cookie factory and as her messages begin to be read by those throughout the city, her growing sense of longing drives her to send a more profound statement out to the world.
Jalali previously made Frontier Blues - which screened at EIFF in 2010 - and Radio Dreams.
Fremont marks a personal work for British Iranian director Babak Jalali, whose films have screened at countless festivals around the world. His debut feature Frontier Blues screened at EIFF in 2010, and his sophomore feature, Radio Dreams, premiered at International Film Festival Rotterdam where it won the Festival’s Tiger Award.
Filmmaker Babak Jalali has said: “I'm so honoured that Fremont will have its UK premiere as the Closing Night film at EIFF! Growing up in the UK, it was easy to understand the huge cultural impact EIFF has had not just on these shores but also internationally. And the importance of making sure it continues to be here and to thrive. I'm thrilled to be returning to Edinburgh once again to show a film to an audience that I've very fond memories of, and in such a prestigious slot in the programme.”
EIFF Programme Director Kate Taylor has said: “Our programming team was totally captivated by Fremont’s mood, style and subtlety, and adored both the character of Donya and the tender care shown by director Babak Jalali towards his layered protagonist. It’s an honour to close this year’s festival with a film that considers the complex dynamics of diaspora experience in such a nuanced way, whilst frequently delighting with its wry wit and off-beat humour. We can’t wait for Edinburgh audiences to fall under its spell.”
This year’s EIFF - which is hosted by Edinburgh International Film Festival after the collapse of the Centre For the Moving Image last year - runs from Friday 18 to Wednesday 23 August with full programme details released on July 6.
