DUBAI - An Iranian film about struggling rock stars took top honours at the Middle East International Film Festival (MEIFF) in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, while its star was named best actor, UAE daily the National reported on Sunday.‘No One Knows About Persian Cats’, written by American journalist Roxana Saberi and her partner Bahman Ghobadi, won the Black Pearl award for Audience Choice, with Hamed Behdad winning the Black Pearl for Best Actor, the newspaper reported.
Saberi made international headlines earlier this year when she was jailed in Iran on charges of spying for the United States.
The 32-year-old spent four months behind bars before her eight-year prison term was reduced to a two-year suspended sentence in the face of growing international outcry.
Other winners on the night included Tunisian film director and screenwriter Mohammed Zran for best new Middle Eastern director and Palestinian director Elia Suleiman for best Middle Eastern narrative, the National reported.
Best documentary went to a film about the life of activist Badshah Khan, who worked to bring peace between India and Pakistan, the newspaper said.
Hollywood stars at this year’s MEIFF included Eva Mendes, Naomi Watts and Orlando Bloom, according to the National.