19/06/2015 - Mohsen Makhmalbaf to receive Galway Hooker Award at this year's Galway Film Fleadh

Internationally acclaimed filmmaker Mohsen Makhmalbaf will be this year's recipient of the Galway Film Fleadh's highest honour - the Galway Hooker Award. 

Makhmalbaf will be the subject of this year's Directors Masterclass in partnership with Screen Training Ireland. The fleadh will also host the Irish premiere of his latest film, The President, which premiered last year at the 71st Venice Film Festival. (Click here to read CineCola's review of The President)

Born in Tehran in 1957, Makhmalbaf was one of the cnetral figures of the Iranian New Wave, a group of filmmakers that revolutionised Iranian cinema. His most famous and celebrated works include Salaam Cinema (1995), Gabbeh (1996) and Kandahar (2001). He also starred in Abbas Kiarostami's groundbreaking Close Up (1990), in the role of a would be filmmaker who stole his identity - the story was actually based on true events experienced by Mohsen Makhmalbaf himself.

The 27th Galway Film Fleadh will be taking place from the 7th to the 12th of July in Galway, Ireland. For more information, click here to visit their official website.