Iranian National Commission for UNESCO Awards Certificate of Appreciation to Behrouz Shoeibi for His Film “No Prior Appointment”

In a ceremony held on Thursday evening, June 2nd, 2022, the Iranian National Commission for UNESCO celebrated director Behrouz Shoeibi for his most recent film, “No Prior Appointment,” which follows Yasamin as she struggles with the passing of her father and her son getting diagnosed with autism. Many figures like the Secretary-General of the Commission Hojatollah Ayoubi were present in the ceremony, alongside director Behrouz Shoeibi and cinematographer Mohammed Haddadi, and members of the Iran Autism Association, including its CEO Saeideh Saleh Ghaffari.
During the ceremony, the film was praised for how it tackled its theme of identity in regard to culture, and many participants also appreciated its focus on autism. “After years, autism is finally entering the public consciousness,” Ghaffari said.
There is still much work to be done for autism awareness in Iran; many individuals with autism do not have their treatments covered by insurance, and some are still required to fulfill their military service. It is Ghaffari’s hope that, by bringing awareness to these issues, people like Behrouz Shoeibi can use art and media representation to broaden people’s understanding of autism.
When Shoeibi went to accept his certificate of appreciation, he requested that the actors of “No Prior Appointment” also be acknowledged and honoured for their work in the film. Shoeibi also expressed that the incorporation of culture into the film’s narrative was important to him because he worries younger generations are becoming more and more disconnected from that aspect of their identity. He ended his acceptance speech by saying that with the creation of “No Prior Appointment”, he hopes he has succeeded in addressing the issues the future of Iran has to face.