Alexander Leeb

Ben-Hur Sepehr
INDEPENDENT FILM QUARTERLY TO HONOR MULTI AWARD-WINNING FILM THE DESPERATE AT THE 64TH ANNUAL CANNES FILM FESTIVAL”
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New York, NY [April 11, 2011] – ITN Distribution in association with the Independent Film Quarterly New Media Festival today announced that it will honor multi award-winning short film The Desperate at a special reception during the Cannes Film Festival. ITN Distribution’s CEO Stuart Alson will host an invitation-only party at 7pm on Sunday May 15th at the Penthouse Terrance on the Croisette overlooking the Mediterranean. Filmmaker Ben-Hur Sepehr, a former student of the legendary Ingmar will accept the award for Best Short Film.

The Desperate, written, produced and directed by Ben-Hur Sepher was made by the non-profit film production company Tolerance Through Knowledge, Inc. The film is a Nazi hospital drama about a condemned Jewish officer forced to perform emergency surgery on a fearsome Nazi General’s dying only son.

Starring Peter Mark Richman (Santa Barbara, Dynasty); Greg Mullavey (Mary Hartman, Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice) and Alexander Leeb, The Desperate has won over 33 awards during its run on the international festival circuit. Most notably Best Short Drama at the IFFF and Best Short Film at the Hollywood Film Festival.

“Superbly acted, beautifully poignant and very personal, uplifting story, “said IFQNMF’s Dan Frank. ”We’re honored to have screened it and we look forward to celebrating the remarkable achievements of Ben-Hur Sepehr.”

Ben Hur Sepehr, a fervent believer in quality filmmaking, says “a good movie should be entertaining, leave its mark on the world, and be commercially rewarding to its investors.”

To keep up with all activities at the IFQNMF, please visit www.independentfilmquarterly.com. For more information about The Desperate and Ben-Hur Sepehr, please visit http://www.tolerancethroughknowledge.org http://www.thedesperatethemovie.com or: Email: newdawnpictures@hotmail.com.

NYIFF PRESS CONTACT: Briege McGarrity Senior VP of Communications (718) 474-1212. BMcGarrityPR@aol.com.

Announcing the Winners of the 2010 Big Easy International Film Festival

JURY AWARDS

Best Narrative – Feature Film
Dynamite Swine

Best Documentary – Feature Film
China: Rebirth of an Empire

Best Drama – Short Film
The Desperate

Best Comedy – Short Film
Wid Winner & the Slipstream

Best Thriller – Short Film
The Absence

Best Documentary – Short Film
Banjo & Whistle

AUDIENCE AWARDS

Best Narrative – Feature Film
Lunopolis

Best Documentary – Feature Film
Katrina Cop in the Superdome

Best Drama – Short Film
My Alien Mother

Best Comedy – Short Film
Take My Wife

Best Thriller – Short Film
The Absence

Best Documentary – Short Film
Return

by Karmel Melamed

Iranian Jewish filmmaker Ben Hur Sepher was shocked on Sunday night Oct. 24 when his independent short film “The Desperate” was announced as the best short film at the Hollywood Film Festival. A humble Sepher accepted the trophy for the heart-wrenching film that deals with an eminent Jewish surgeon imprisoned at a Nazi concentration camp during World War II who is conscripted at gunpoint to perform emergency surgery on the son of a fearsome Nazi general. The film stars television series regular Peter Mark Richman, who gives a remarkable performance as the guilt ridden Jewish surgeon Dr. Blumenthal in the film.

But this latest award is not the only acclaim the film has received since it was released earlier this year. “The Desperate” has so far won 17 top honors at a whole host of national film festivals including best Short Film of 2010 at the California Independent Film Festival and runner up for best Short Film of 2010 at the Los Angeles Jewish film Festival.

I caught up with Sepher who was caught off guard with his film’s latest win when he said “I am honestly surprised to receive such an honor at the Hollywood Film Festival— I wasn’t expecting it at all”. Sepher is one of the Iranian Jewish community’s rare filmmakers who has made a name for himself in Iran and the United States for writing, directing and producing provocative films. His occupation as a filmmaker is indeed unique in the Iranian Jewish community because individuals who pursued careers in the arts or entertainment in Iran were typically not looked highly upon or even respected. Nevertheless Sepher was trained in his craft at the Swedish Film Institute and began his career at the Stockholm State Theatre as a protégée to renown film director Ingmar Bergman. Sepher went on to direct films and plays in Iran and was the personal filmmaker to the late Shah of Iran— shooting the Shah’s private meeting and gatherings. Since immigrating to the U.S. three decades ago, he has gone on to direct a whole host of television programs and short films in Hollywood.

(left to right; cast member Leonardo Foti, Ben Hur Sepher and cast member Alexander Leeb.
What I found truly remarkable was the fact that the “The Desperate” was produced by a filmmaker of Iranian descent. This speaks volumes in light of Iran’s current president denying the existence of the Holocaust. No doubt this short film will draw the attention of Iranians living worldwide who are interested in learning more about the realities of the Holocaust.
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