The moment you’ve all been waiting for has arrived! The fourth edition of the “ARK GATE International Films Festival” proudly announces its selected films. After reviewing hundreds of entries from around the world, we’ve chosen the very best for you. Are you ready to join us and discover the most exciting independent cinema? Here it is—the list of selected films:
We’re thrilled to unveil the official poster for the 4th edition of the Art Gate International Film Festival! This year’s festival will be even more special than the last, and we invite you to follow us as we prepare to make this incredible event happen in Montreal.
Poster: Aryan Arian
Graphic Design Director: Siamak Pourjabbar
It is with great pleasure that we unveil the selected films for this year’s festival. we wish to express our profound pride in receiving over 300 submissions from around the globe this year. Submissions poured in from every continent, and for that, we are immensely grateful.
AGIFF embraces a wide range of film types and genres, including short films, feature films, documentaries, animation, and more. The festival holds a steadfast commitment to impartial evaluation, disregarding factors such as film duration, genre, or gender. As a result, our selection reflects a diverse assortment of feature films, short films, documentaries, and fiction works.
The films chosen for 3rd of the Ark Gate International Film Festival (AGIFF)
“Any Given Night” (USA) directed by Saniya Mirwani “Sphinx” (Iran) directed by Hamid Yousefi “Fatih the Conqueror” (France) directed by Onur Yagiz “Happen to Happen” (Republic of Korea) directed by Julie Joohee Jeon “Van Gogh In Love” (France) directed by Jean Luc Ayach “Blindness” (Canada) directed by Amir Zavosh “The Untouchable” (Iran) directed by Avazeh Shahnavaz “Yabá” (Brazil) directed by Rodrigo Sena “Freeway” (Iran) directed by Mohammad Akbari Asl “The Line” (Canada) directed by Myriam Guérin “Let’s Guess” (Iran) directed by Fatemeh Karbasi “The Spiral” (Argentina) directed by María Silvia Esteve “The Girl and The Boy” (France) directed by Jean-Marie Besset
Congratulations to all the selected filmmakers for their outstanding work. We eagerly anticipate showcasing these exceptional films at the 3rd Annual Ark Gate International Film Festival.
AGIFF festival will be held from 21 to 25 June 2023
We are honored to have the opportunity of inviting you to AGIFF 2022 film festival. The festival will be held from June 29th until July 3rd, 5 pm to 11 pm everyday.
Day one , Opening ceremony June 29th schedule:
1- Red Carpet and photo call at 5 pm
2. Introducing the festival and welcoming the guests
3- The festival special screening “Delighted” by Abdolreza Kahani 6pm- 8pm as well as Q&R with the director.
4- Reception ( drinks and food) at 8pm.
6- Party and music
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Day 2 June 30th:
1. The first section of short films from 5pm to 6:30pm
2. Reception at 6:30
3. First section of school films screening from 7pm to 8:30pm
4. Reviewing school films shown on the same day 9pm to 10 p.m.
5. 10 to 11 pm, Screening of the documentary “I am here” and its review in the presence of the director. (Out of competition)
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Day3, July 1st:
1. Screening of the second section of short films from 5 pm to 6:30 pm.
2. Reception at 6:30 pm.
3- Screening the second section of school films from 7 pm to 8:30 pm.
4- Reviewing school films shown on the same day.
9 pm- 10 p.m.
5- Atosa’s short film “All qualified men” screening at 10 pm (out of competition)
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Day 4 July 2nd:
1. The third section of short films screening from 5 pm to 6:30 pm.
2- Reception at 6:30
3- Screening the third part of school films from 7 to 8:30 pm
4. The jury meeting in the small cinema hall, 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
5- School short films review with the festival jury.9:00 pm to 10 p.m.
6- Announcing the candidates of the school short films from 10:00 to 11:00
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Day 5, Closing ceremony July 3rd
1- Showing all the nominated films 5pm to 6 pm.
2- the Red Carpet (candidates) from 6:00 to 7:00 pm
3- Photos and introduction of sponsors.
4- reception (drinks and foods) 7:00 pm
5- Announcing the prizes 7:30pm – 8:30
6. Photo call
7- Music and party
8- Announcing the winner of the best short film and school short film of the Festival at 10:30
9- Screening the winner of best short film at the end of the festival.
Address : 18 Mill St,Thornhill ON L4J 8C5 , Canada
Parking: There is absolutely NO PARKING SPOT outside of the venue. You need to park in public parking on old Yonge next to the Thornhill park and tennis court . There is 3 min walk from public parking to the venue.
The festival opens on June 29 and ends on July 3 with a selection of the best.
35 films will be screened in three sections and the statue (Arkab) will be awarded to the best.
The AGIFF Festival is held outdoors and includes the red carpet, workshops, review sessions and film screenings.
The director of the festival is Abdolreza Kahani, an Iranian director who has established the festival to screen films with free thought. Abdolreza Kahani, who has won prestigious awards at international festivals, left Iran after his films were banned and censored.
Short Film:
1- SCARF
MARJAN SAFABAKHSH
2- ADAPT
KAMAL KACHOOEIAN
3- DABUR
SAEID NEJATI
4- INERT
ERFAN MALEK HOSEINI
5- WARCELONA
VALI KARIMNIA
6- TIDE
PEDRAM MEHRKHAH
7- BRUISED
ALI TAVAKOLI
8- BEFORE DARKNESS
MOSAYEB HANAEI
9- LIFELINE
ABDOLLAH Sahin
10- MOTHER
SINA & SOHEIL NAZARI
11- CONDEMNED
MOHAMMAD YOUSEFI
12- THE HIRED HAND
MOHAMMAD REZA KESHAVARI
13- SYNTHESIS
MOHAMMAD TOWRIRARIAN
14- VOICES IN THE WAVES
NAVID ZARE
15- POLAR BEAR CLIMATE CHANGE
MILAD MOTAHARI
Student Short Film:
1- MRS. SOTOODEH
SAHRA VARYANI
CANADA
2- OVERDUE
YASSIN NOUR
CANADA
3- 7th BIRTHDAY
SHOLEH LAJEVARDI
CANADA
4- INSEPAEABLE
DARIUSH BAHALOU & KAMYAR RAHNEMARAD
CANADA
5- NOT MY PRESIDENT
ARVIN ZOKAEI
CANADA
6- DEORESSED CHICKEN
ELNAZ ZARSAZAN
CANADA
7- MAMI
NAJMEH TANSAZ
CANADA
8- THE CORRIDOR
AMIR ZAVOSH
CANADA
9- THAT FRIEND
SAHRA VARYANI
CANADA
10- THE ISLANDERS
NAOMI BAKER
CANADA
11- BIRTHDAY 2022
PARMIS TABARI
CANADA
12- 5 BIG MACS FOR SALVATION
SEPIDAR VALYAN
CANADA
13- THESE THREE PEOPLE
NAVID EDALATI FARD
CANADA
14- GREY HAZE
KIMIA MOTEVALLI
CANADA
15- ON THE MOON
MEHDI ESLAMPOUR
CANADA
16- THE MOTHERS
MARYAM SALAMAT
BELGIUM
17- THE PRIVET AREA
AMINEH SOMEH
UNITED STATES
18- MIREYITA
ORANGEL LUGO
BOLIVARIAN REPUBLIC
19- AT YOUR SERVIS
TIME WORK
NEDERLAND
20- DEADHEAD
AHMAD NASROLAHI
ITALY
21- DAMNOOSH
BEHNAZ SHOAR
GERMANY
PROJECTION SPECIALE:
1- DELITHED
ABDOLREZA KAHANI
IRAN
2- I AM HERE
ALLEN FOROUHAR
CANADA
The ARK GATE TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM Festival has joined with FILMFREEWAY! Global Film Registrations will start on February the 1st.
The festival is held annually, on dates June 29 to July 3 in Toronto with the presence of famous Iranian director and festival founder Abdolreza Kahani for 5 days in different settings, all dedicated to independent films with free themes and also to stand against censorship.
The first edition of the festival was held last summer and it’s second is upcoming this year.
Selected films will be screened outdoors and on the big screen at night, other activities will be held in the afternoon including the red carpet, the film market, workshops and celebrations.
The festival prizes “Crystal Arkab” will be awarded to the Best Acting, Best Directing, Best Screenplay and Best Film.
In the acting category, women are judged alongside men and only one person is awarded.
