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Songwriter, Recording Artist & Peace Activist Nassiri Receives World Visionary Award as Short Film 'Love Sees No Color' Premieres on Boston Film Festival's Closing Night
By Michelle Gerstner
posted Sep 21, 2007, 12:21
"Love Sees No Color" has been selected
for the Closing Night of The 2007 Boston Film Festival.
"Love Sees No Color" has been selected
for the Closing Night of The 2007 Boston Film Festival on September 20th
with the film's star -- international songwriter, recording artist and
peace activist Nassiri -- receiving the World Visionary Award for his
achievements promoting World Peace, it was announced today by Robin Dawson,
executive director. The festival runs September 14-21 at the AMC Boston
Common 19 Theatres.
The screening marks the east coast premiere of the ambitious,
unprecedented 12-minute film sung in 15 languages by thousands of children
in 18 countries by 18 of the world's most talented directors.
Nassiri began filming this visually stunning short film in the fall of
2006 as a launching pad for his Love Sees No Color Foundation. The project
was inspired by his mission for world peace, and motivated by his belief
that the path to peace is through film and music and the empowerment of
children.
Nassiri and the production team decided to shoot the film in many of
the world's most scenic landmarks, creating a monumental task with
staggering logistical problems. "It was like making 18 short films all
rolled into one," said Nassiri. "We hired an accomplished director in each
country and the filmmakers assembled outstanding production teams."
During filming, there were a multitude of perils and obstacles. Permits
were granted and occasionally denied due to security concerns. Filming
commenced although the crew received warnings of imminent danger in
Palestine, Iran, and Israel. In the midst of flying to Iran, the crew's
plane had to make an emergency landing and return to Rome. Ninety percent
(90%) of the crew became ill due to extensive travel.
Some of the world's most inspiring locations were utilized during
filming, including the Wall of Separation that divides Israel and
Palestine, the Trocadero square by the Eiffel Tower and the Montmartre in
Paris, the Canals, the Holocaust Memorial and Brandenburg Gate in Berlin,
the Ancient Rome Coliseum, the Hermitage Museum, and the River Neva in St.
Petersburg.
The crew was the first to film on the historical grounds of the Taj
Mahal, the first to film within the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem,
inside the Vatican, and the first to film at the Statue of Liberty since
September 11, 2001. Other filming locations included the ancient city of
Persepolis, Osaka Castle in Japan, One Arm Point in Australia, the Great
Wall of China, the Pyramids and Great Sphinx in Egypt, and Unification Park
in South Korea.
Other movies selected by the festival for Closing Night are; "New York
City Serenade," starring Chris Klein, Freddie Prinze Jr. and Jamie-Lynn
Sigler in the story of lifelong friends Owen and Ray and the series of
events that leads to their final farewell; and "The Poet," starring
Jonathan Scarfe, Nina Dobrev, Daryl Hannah and Roy Scheider in a love story
chronicling the romance between a Rabbi's daughter and a disenchanted
German soldier during World War II.
In addition to Nassiri, actors confirmed to attend the festival include
George Clooney (presenting the Lifetime Achievement Award to Jerry
Weintraub), Dane Cook ("Good Luck Chuck"), Emily Mortimer ("Lars and The
Real Girl"), Alison Eastwood (makes her directorial debut with "Rails and
Ties"), Danny Aiello (the U.S. premiere of "Stiffs"), Michael Madsen
("Strength and Honour"), Kate Del Castillo ("Trade"), "CSI Miami" star Adam
Rodriguez ("Take"), Maria Menounos (correspondent for "Access Hollywood"
and "Today" who produced "The Land of Merry Misfits"), Zachary Bennett
("The Poet"), Shaun Benson ("The Metrosexual"), David Fumero ("Greetings
From the Shore"), and Cerina Vincent ("Everybody Wants To Be Italian").
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