The cinema of Russia began in the Russian Empire, widely developed in the Soviet Union and in the years following its dissolution. The Russian film industry would remain internationally recognized. In the 21st century, Russian cinema has become known internationally with films such as Hardcore Henry (2015), Leviathan (2014), Night Watch (2004) and Brother (1997). The Moscow International Film Festival began in Moscow in 1935. The Nika Award is the main annual national film award in Russia.
Ramin Bahrani is an Iranian-American director and screenwriter. Film critic Roger Ebert ranked Bahrani's Chop Shop (2007) as the sixth-best film of the 2000s, calling him "the new director of the decade". Bahrani was the recipient of the 2009 Guggenheim Fellowship. Bahrani is a professor of film directing at his alma mater, the Columbia University School of the Arts.
The Ape is a 2009 Swedish drama film directed by Jesper Ganslandt. It is Ganslandt's second feature film, following Falkenberg Farewell from 2006. Inspired by British director Mike Leigh, the film uses an unconventional method where the lead actor, Olle Sarri, wasn't allowed to read the script. Instead he was led to locations and instructed before the filming of each scene, unaware of the full plot until filming was completed. The title comes from an anecdote composer Erik Enocksson once told the director, where he while travelling on a packed bus suddenly got the feeling that all people around him were apes.
Fien Troch is a Belgian left field film director, producer and screenwriter.
Gianfranco Rosi is an Italian-American documentary filmmaker. His 2013 film Sacro GRA won the Golden Lion at the 70th Venice Film Festival, while his 2016 film Fire at Sea won the Golden Bear at the 66th Berlin Film Festival. Rosi is the only documentary filmmaker to win two highest awards at the three major European film festivals and is the only director besides Michael Haneke, Ang Lee, Ken Loach, and Jafar Panahi to do so in the 21st century.
Tales is a 2014 Iranian drama film directed by Rakhshan Bani-E'temad. It contains seven tales about different people. It was selected to compete for the Golden Lion at the 71st Venice International Film Festival, where it won the award for Best Screenplay. It was also screened in the Contemporary World Cinema section at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival.
The Farewell Party is a 2014 Israeli drama film about the use of a euthanasia device, directed by Tal Granit and Sharon Maymon. It was nominated for the Ophir Award for Best Film. The film was screened in the Venice Days section of the 71st Venice International Film Festival and has been selected to be screened in the Contemporary World Cinema section at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival. The film was also screened in the 44th edition of the International Film Festival Rotterdam, reaching the second place in the IFFR audience award.
Today is a 2014 Iranian drama film directed by Reza Mirkarimi. It was screened in the Contemporary World Cinema section at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival. It was selected as the Iranian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 87th Academy Awards, but was not nominated.
Venice is a 2014 Cuban drama film directed by Kiki Álvarez. It was screened in the Contemporary World Cinema section at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival.
Blood of My Blood is a 2015 Italian drama film directed by Marco Bellocchio. It was screened in the main competition section of the 72nd Venice International Film Festival and in the Masters section of the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival.
The Endless River is a 2015 South African drama film directed by Oliver Hermanus. It was screened in the main competition section of the 72nd Venice International Film Festival. It is the first South African film to be nominated for the Golden Lion. It was also shown in the Contemporary World Cinema section of the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival.
Frenzy is a 2015 Turkish drama film directed by Emin Alper. It was screened in the main competition section of the 72nd Venice International Film Festival where it won the Special Jury Prize. It was screened in the Contemporary World Cinema section of the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival.
Indivisible is a 2016 Italian drama film directed by Edoardo De Angelis. It premiered in the Venice Days section at the 73rd Venice International Film Festival and was later screened in the Contemporary World Cinema section at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival.
Foxtrot is a 2017 internationally co-produced drama film written and directed by Samuel Maoz. It stars Lior Ashkenazi and Sarah Adler as a couple who are informed that their son, an IDF soldier, was killed in action.
The Long Walk is a 2019 Laotian drama film directed by Mattie Do. It premiered in the Giornate degli Autori section of the 76th Venice International Film Festival. It also screened in the Contemporary World Cinema section at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival.
180° Rule is a 2020 Iranian drama film directed and written by Farnoosh Samadi, starring Sahar Dolatshahi, Pejman Jamshidi, Azita Hajian and Hasan Pourshirazi. The film premiered at the 2020 Toronto International Film Festival.
Farnoosh Samadi is an Iranian director and screenwriter. her short film The Silence (2016) was nominated for a Short Film Palme d'Or at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival.
Nazanin Ahmadi is an Iranian actress. She has received various accolades, including a Crystal Simorgh, in addition to nomination for an Iran's Film Critics and Writers Association Award.
Sadaf Asgari is an Iranian actress. She is best known for her acting in Disappearance (2017), Yalda, a Night for Forgiveness (2019) and Squad of Girls (2022). She won the Short Film Special Jury Award for Acting at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival for her performance in Exam (2019).
Love Life is a 2022 Japanese-French drama film written and directed by Kōji Fukada. Set in contemporary Japan, the film is inspired by a song of the same name, recorded in the album "Love Life", released by musician Akiko Yano in 1991. In 2000, the singer Hitomi had released an eponym album on AvexTrax records. It revolves around Taeko and her husband Jiro facing "love" and "life".
