For a Moment Freedom








The film was the official entry of Austrian candidate for the Foreign Language Award 2010.
Some have to overcome nightmares to achieve their dreams
A film based on true stories set in the mountains of Kurdistan, in Turkey and in Vienna about a group of refugees trying desperately to reach the holy land of freedom.
The main storyline is the journey undertaken by two young men, who are trying to bring 2 small children from Iran to Turkey, so that they can be reunited with their parents in Austria. Interwoven with these and other stories are the adventures of a Persian teacher and a young Kurd, who fight their miserable situation with a big sense of humour.
A film about mankind’s universal need to have dreams – and the courage to pursue these dreams, even though many of them dissolve into thin air. Stories of illusions and periods of uncertainty, of people with very different natures, sharing the same universal dream: at least a moment of freedom.
- with
- Navid Akhavan,
- Pourya Mahyari,
- Fares Fares,
- Payam Madjlessi,
- Behi Djanati Ataï,
- Johannes Silberschneider,
- Michael Niavarani
- SCREENPLAY AND DIRECTOR Arash T. Riahi
- DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Michi Riebl
- PRODUCTION DESIGNER Christoph Kanter
- COSTUME DESIGNER Monika Buttinger
- SOUND ENGINEER Mohsan Nasiri
- EDITOR Karina Ressler
- MUSIC Karuan
- PRODUCTION MANAGER Ulrike Lässer
- SUPERVISING PRODUCER Michael Katz
- PRODUCERS Veit Heiduschka, Margaret Menegoz
- PRODUCTION COMPANIES Wega-Filmproduktion, Les Films du Losange

Festivals
- World Film Festival Montréal
- 4th Zurich Film Festival
- 13th Pusan International Film Festival
- Festival of Saint Jean de Luz/Biarritz
- Mostra de Valencia
- Festival Cinessone (European Cinema)
- Viennale
- Festival Ciné 32 Indépendance(s) et Creation
- San Luis International Film Festival, Argentina
- 5th Amazonas Film Festival, Brazil
- 30. Max-Ophüls-Preis Filmfestival
- Diagonale 2009, Graz
- 10. Festival del Cinema Europeo in Lecce
Auszeichnungen
- Golden Zenith for the Best First Feature Film, World Film Festival Montréal
- Golden Eye Award for the Best First Feature Film, 4th Zürich Film Festival
- Christera Award for Best Directing, Festival Saint Jean de Luz/Biarritz
- Vienna Film Award for the best Austrian Film 2008, Viennale 08
- Festival du Cinéma Européen en Essone:
- Public Award
- Student Award
- 19. Festival International du Film D’Histoire-Pessac:
- Main Award of the Jury
- Student Award
- Publics Prize
- Best Screenplay, Festival Internacional San Luis Cine/Argentina,
- 5. Amazonas Filmfestival/Manaus Brazil
- Grand Prize for Best Movie
- Publics Prize
- 30. Max-Ophüls-Preis Filmfestival:
- Award of Saarlands Prime Minister
- Interfilm Prize
- Thomas-Pluch-Preis, Diagonale 2009
- 10. Festival del Cinema Europeo in Lecce (Italy):
- Special Jury Award
- Special Audition Award
- Open Doek Film Festival, Belgium:
- Canvas Award (main competitive prize)
- Youth Jury Award
- 19. filmkunstfest M-V, Schwerin:
- Der fliegende Ochse – (main award for the Best Feature Film)
- NDR – Regiepreis (Directors Prize awarded by NDR)
- Films from the South Filmfestival, Norway:
- Public Award
- Tromso International Film Festival:
- Silver Audience Award
- Festival Nuovo Cinema Europa (Profondità di Campo), Genua:
- Il Premio del Pubblico (Public Award)
- Il Premio della Giuria (Jury Award)
- Festival Ciné Junior, Val de Marne:
- Young Jurys Prize
- Festival du Film OPEN DOEK 2010:
- Prix du Public – Gazet von Antwerpen
- International Film Festival East & West, Orenburg 2010:
- Special Award