Author: Bijan Tehrani

TRIAL BY FIRE: Lives Re-forged celebrates the courage and strength of burn survivors as they reclaim their lives after the devastation of fire. The film follows the journeys of ordinary people who rise above their injuries to discover unexpected insights and a transformed worldview. Through extraordinary courage, grit, and determination, all re-forge their destinies by first embracing – and then achieving – new dreams. These powerful stories are framed and given insight by U.S. veteran, actor, and speaker, J.R. Martinez.When metal is forged with fire it becomes stronger. It turns out the same is true of the human spirit.Bijan Tehrani: …

This Sunday, in the picturesque loft of Doma Restaurant, overlooking the charming streets of Beverly Hills, Kino Croatia – Croatian Film series at American Cinematheque – will have a Kick-off party for its 2013 year edition, which is taking place June 21-23 at the Egyptian and Aero Theatres. The central part of this event is Los Angeles premier of 30 minutes documentary “Cooking for Hollywood” featuring John Woo, Adam Beach, John Travolta, Christian Slater, Peter Stormare and many other big names – and starring Tony Kerum. Who is Tony Kerum? – We asked that question Matko B. Malinger, the creator…

In Sightseers Chris (Steve Oram) wants to show Tina (Alice Lowe) his world and he wants to do it his way – on a journey through the British Isles in his beloved Abbey Oxford Caravan. Tina’s led a sheltered life and there are things that Chris needs her to see – the Crich Tramway Museum, the Ribblehead Viaduct, the Keswick Pencil Museum and the rolling countryside that accompanies these wonders in his life. But it doesn’t take long for the dream to fade. Litterbugs, noisy teenagers and pre-booked caravan sites, not to mention Tina’s meddling mother, soon conspire to shatter…

Venus and Serena takes an unfiltered look into the remarkable lives of the greatest sister-act professional tennis has ever seen. In a sport where they were not welcomed, the indomitable Williams sisters faced the opposition with grace and courage not only breaking new ground for female and African American athletes everywhere, but dominating the women’s game for over a decade. The film tells the inspiring story of how these two women, against all odds, but the help of visionary parents, made it to the top. Venus and Serena also explores the struggle of these two aging superstars during the 2011…

“Czech That Film” International Film Festival, LA opened on May 10th and will continue through June 3rd. This is the second annual touring program of the best new films from the Czech Republic, presented by The Consulate General of the Czech Republic in Los Angeles and Staropramen . The series is organized and curated by the UCLA Film & Television Archive, and will take place at the Billy Wilder Theater in Westwood. We interviewed Mr. Michal Sedláček, Consul General of the Czech Republic about the “Czech That Film” International Film Festival, LA.Mr. Sedláček has been working as a diplomat since…

A filmmaker by trade, Harun Mehmedinovic took up photography as a hobby during his road trips across America. Years later, his project “Bloodhoney*” became one of the most successful Kick starter photography campaigns of all time. Harun’s photographs have been featured by major publications, including Vogue Italia and the Los Angeles Times. Prior to his venture into professional photography, Harun’s film “In the Name of the Son” premiered at Telluride Film Festival and won over thirty international awards including Shanghai, Savannah, and Cleveland film festivals. It was the first live action short film to receive an exclusive screening for the…

Midnight’s Children is an epic film from Oscar-nominated director Deepa Mehta, based on the Booker Prize-winning novel by Salman Rushdie.At the stroke of midnight on August 15, 1947, as India declares independence from Great Britain, two newborn babies are switched by a nurse in a Bombay hospital. Saleem Sinai, the illegitimate son of a poor woman, and Shiva, the offspring of a wealthy couple, are fated to live the destiny meant for each other. Their lives become mysteriously intertwined and are inextricably linked to India’s whirlwind journey of triumphs and disasters.From the unlikely romance of Saleem’s grandparents to the birth…

JOSHUA TREE, 1951, A PORTRAIT OF JAMES DEAN Deandirected by Matthew Mishory, is an intimate portrait of James Dean on the cusp of achieving notoriety as both a great actor and an American icon. Set primarily in the early 1950s and focusing on Dean’s experiences as an up-and-coming actor in Los Angeles, the film is a series of revealing and sometimes dreamlike vignettes that blend biographical and fictionalized elements to present a pivotal moment in a remarkable life. Bijan Tehrani: What inspired you to make this film?Matthew Mishory: Making a film for me is always very personal. Conceptually, it was…

Augustine is an examination of the real case story and unusual relationship between Dr. Jean-Martin Charcot, the pioneering 19th century French neurologist – whom Sigmund Freud studied under – and Augustine, his star teenage patient. After suffering an inexplicable seizure which leaves her paralyzed on her right side, 19-year-old illiterate kitchen maid Augustine (27 year-old singer-turned-actress Soko in a break out performance), is shipped off to Paris’ all female psychiatric hospital Pitié-Salpêtriere which specializes in detecting the then-fashionable ailment of ‘hysteria’. Augustine captures the attention of Dr. Charcot (Vincent Lindon, Mademoiselle Chambon, Welcome) after a seizure, which appears to give…

American Cinematheque is a Los Angeles Mecca for fans of cinema as art, especially international cinema. To learn more about the activities of the American Cinematheque, we talked to Barbara Zicka Smith, who co-founded the American Cinematheque. Barbara Zicka Smith has served as the organization’s Executive Director since 1992. Currently, she is involved in developing the historic Egyptian Theater in Hollywood as the permanent home of the American Cinematheque. Prior to her involvement with the Cinematheque, Smith was the Associate Director of the legendary Los Angeles International Film Exposition (FILMEX) from 1977 to 1983. Bijan Tehrani: Please tell us about…