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A Cry From Iran Wins Major Documentary Award SANTA ANA, Calif. (Oct. 31, 2007) – A Cry from Iran, a powerful documentary on modern-day martyrdom, captured the Best Documentary Award at the prestigious San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival last weekend.
The film tells the true story of Haik Hovsepian, a leader of evangelical Christians in Iran. He was brutally murdered in 1994 for speaking out against the persecution and imprisonment of another Christian under Iran's Islamist regime. The film was produced and directed by Joseph and Andre Hovsepian – the sons of the martyred hero – in honor of their father. The documentary was produced in partnership with Open Doors International, a Christian ministry which supports and strengthens persecuted believers around the world.
The crowd rose to their feet in solemn applause as Joseph and Andre took the stage to receive the award, according to an ASSIST News Service report. “We are grateful that this film could touch the audience in such a deep way and communicate the message of love, courage and sacrifice,” stated Joseph Hovsepian. “In reality, the main award goes to the hero and role model of my life – my father – who portrayed the best example of a Christian father and a church leader for us in Iran. We are honored and humbled that we've had a small part in sharing his story with the world.” A Cry From Iran has won six first-place awards at film festivals in 2007, including winner of the Best International Documentary at the Christian Film Festival. The documentary has also been nominated for two other awards.
More than 1,100 participants representing states from Florida to Washington and foreign countries from Scotland to Nigeria were on hand for the presentation of the Jubilee Awards during closing ceremonies at the fourth annual event, according to ASSIST.
“This is a compelling, must-see documentary which graphically shows what Christians like Haik Hovsepian go through because they place their faith in Jesus Christ,” says Open Doors USA President/CEO Dr. Carl Moeller. “He is definitely one of our modern-day heroes of the faith. In the wake of the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church on Sunday, November 11, and its focus on the Muslim Word, we as Christians in the West must continue to keep believers who are caught in the crossfire in our prayers.” Joseph and Andre Hovsepian have put their heart and soul into the project, which included filming in five countries, interviews with 40 political and religion experts, family and friends, 42 months of production and 200 hours of archive footage.
Iran is ranked No. 3 on Open Doors’ World Watch List of countries where Christians suffer the most severe persecution.
To order A Cry From Iran on DVD, go to http://www.acryfromiran.com/ or click here to order online from Open Doors USA.
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