Milad Alami’s Debut Feature Wins At San Sebastian

Milad Alami’s debut feature The Charmer (Charmøren) was awarded the FEDEORA Award by the Federation of Film Critics of Europe and the Mediterranean at the San Sebastian Film Festival on Saturday.

The Charmer is an intense psychological drama about Esmail, a young Iranian man who is desperately trying to meet women who can secure his stay in Denmark. However, as time runs out, he falls in love and his past catches up with him.

The jury said in their deliberation: “The filmmaker deals, in a delicate way, with one of the biggest challenges in Europe nowadays, giving the characters a new ground to show what makes them close to each other rather than what sets them apart.”

“With smart and mature directing, he portrays a story lived by many, allowing his actors to give the best of themselves.”

The Charmer will next be shown at the 53rd Chicago International Film Festival (12 – 26 October).