Art
Lara Wolf: From Screen to Jury Panel at the 10th Iranian Film Festival
The Swiss-Iranian actress shares her experience judging films and embracing cultural connections at Zurich’s prestigious event
We had the chance to meet with actress Lara Wolf to discuss her role as a jury member for the upcoming 10th Iranian Film Festival in Zurich. She took time from her busy schedule to promote her latest film, For Those About to Die. The film, directed by Roland Emmerich and Marco Kreuzpaintner, also stars Anthony Hopkins.
As someone of Swiss-Iranian descent, how did it feel to be part of the jury for the Iranian Film Festival? Did your heritage influence the way you approached the films, and if so, in what way?
Being a part of the Iranian Film Festival in Zurich was a true pleasure, mainly because it unified my Swiss-Persian background and allowed me to connect with wonderful, creative people. Seeing what Iranian filmmakers are up to and having them presented on Swiss Turf was a jackpot for me.
https://youtube.com/shorts/
What do you think about the films we selected for the 10th Iranian Film Festival?
This year’s selection filled me with tears and surprise. It made me laugh with some brilliant absurd comedy (the best kind, in my humble opinion) that felt unique to Iranian culture yet universally valid. Our documentaries lead with courage, heart, and societal and historical importance, and I am excited for everyone to see them.
https://youtube.com/shorts/
What criteria did you focus on when judging the films in the festival?
Generally, I love it when a film grabs my attention within the first ten and sometimes 20 minutes. Allow me to add: I followed this rule before social media compromised our attention spans.
A good film must have an interesting starting point that feels urgent and lures you in with a premise.
Ideally, I want to watch a movie that holds my attention from the beginning to the end, lures me in with an exciting premise right off the bat, convinces with solid direction and performances, leads with tempo and rhythm, and provides an audio-visual world in which I can fully emerge myself. I gravitate towards a unique style of cinematography and attention to detail when it comes to composition and colouring, but I would never sacrifice the story for aesthetics.
The last criterion for choosing a film within a competition is to watch it without being seduced by high or deterred by low production value. Of course, a film is a visual medium, but not all filmmakers have the same resources and financial backing. And while the latter may facilitate certain things, money still does not equal creative brilliance and never will. It is not easy to remain fully unbiased, but making an effort to stay objective and consider everyone’s starting point seems pivotal — as long as the film meets some of the criteria mentioned above.
How did you collaborate with the other jury members when evaluating and discussing the films?
First, we each watched the films on our own. Then we met over Zoom for a 2.5-hour meeting to narrow down the movies over several rounds of discussion and at specific points with compromise until our winner and runner-up crystallised.
How was your overall experience serving as a jury member?
It was my first experience as a jury member, and I enjoyed it. As an actress, I often end up watching things I audition for, which means many TV series. Sometimes, it is content I wouldn’t choose to watch as someone who loves films, so this came as a great opportunity. I often ask my friends to send me film recommendations because I sometimes need help to keep up with European Arthouse films. I’m always curious about what new filmmakers are up to!
What was the most rewarding part of being involved in this festival?
I jumped at this fantastic opportunity so quickly to satisfy my creative needs! I realised that I loved it because I enjoyed collaborating with the other jury members to discuss the films in detail, which is something I love to do anyway, and being able to do it with everyone else was a beautiful experience. I’d be happy to be part of a jury again!
https://youtube.com/shorts/
About Lara Wolf:
She is a Persian-Swiss actress and singer. She holds an MSc in Psychology from the University of Zurich and is a graduate of the Lee Strasberg Theater & Film Institute in NYC. Originally from Zurich, she currently lives in New York. She is an original and current member of the Primitive Grace Theatre Ensemble co-founded by David Zayas and Paul Calderon in NYC, where she has developed and work-shopped her writing and continues honing her skills as an actress.
Lara is known for her role as Princess Nour on ABC’s Quantico, starring opposite Priyanka Chopra. Most recently, she was cast as Queen Berenice alongside Anthony Hopkins in the massive-scale gladiator show THOSE ABOUT TO DIE starring Anthony Hopkins, directed by Roland Emmerich and Marco Kreuzpaintner, on Amazon Prime. Lara also stars opposite Golshifteh Farahani in the upcoming film Reading Lolita In Tehran, based on the New York Times bestselling novel by Azar Nafisi and directed by the esteemed Eran Riklis, as well as starring as a cabaret singer in the period film The Performance, directed by Shira Piven and starring Jeremy Piven (Ari Gold, Entourage) and Robert Carlyle. In the fall of 2024, she’ll be boarding on another exciting film, an action-spy thriller soon to be announced, so stay tuned!
