Iranian director Farhadi awarded EU prize at Cannes

: 0 Comment(s)Print E-mail Xinhua, May 21, 2012

Adjust font size:

Iranian director Asghar Farhadi celebrates after winning the best foreign language film at the US Academy Awards in February 2012 [file photo]

Iranian director Asghar Farhadi has been awarded a prize from the European Union (EU) at the ongoing 65th Cannes Film Festival on the French riviera.

Farhadi will receive 60,000 euros (about 76,800 U.S. dollars) for his next film to be produced in France this autumn with Oscar-winning actress Marion Cotillard.

Farhadi has been known in Europe and across the world for his films "About Elly" and "A Separation". He won the foreign-language picture Academy Award earlier this year.

The 12-day film festival will run until May 27 and no less than 18 films in various sections have been sponsored by the EU, which intends to increase its finance for cinema and culture in spite of current economic difficulties.