Gabbeh (Persian: گبه) is a 1996 Iranian film directed by Mohsen Makhmalbaf. It was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 1996 Cannes Film Festival. The film was selected as the Iranian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 70th Academy Awards, but was not accepted as a nominee. The film gets its name from a type of Persian rug and starts by showing an elderly couple, carrying their gabbeh, walking toward the river hoping to wash their rug. When the rug is spread on the ground, a girl, referred to as Gabbeh, magically comes out of it. The film follows her story and audience learn about her family, her uncle who is hoping to find a bride, and most importantly her longing for a young man she hopes to marry. The picture was banned in Iran for being "subversive". Cast Abbas Sayah as Uncle Shaghayeh Djodat as Gabbeh Hossein Moharami as Old Man Rogheih Moharami as Old Woman Parvaneh Ghalandari Awards Best Director and Special Critics Award, Sitges Film Festival, 1996 Silver Screen Award, Singapore International Film Festival Best Artistic Contribution Award, Tokyo International Film Festival One of 10 selected films by critics – Times (USA) 1996. See also List of submissions to the 70th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film List of Iranian submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film References External links Makhmalbaf Film House 1996 films Iranian drama films 1990s Persian-language films Films directed by Mohsen Makhmalbaf 1996 drama films Film controversies in Iran