TEHRAN – The 43rd Fajr International Film Festival (FIFF) is being held in Shiraz, Fars province. Two competition categories will be held focusing on innovative films from around the world.
According to the festival’s website, 10 feature films will compete in the Future Frame category, while eight titles will be screened in the Broken Olive Branch category.
Future Frame is dedicated to supporting new voices, presenting first and second feature films that bring fresh perspectives and original storytelling to the screen.
This year’s lineup includes “Beyond the Rails” directed by Turkey’s Cenk Izgören, “Round 13” directed by Tunisia’s Mohamed Ali Nahadi, “Water Lilies” directed by Changho Lee from South Korea, “The Song Sustxotin” directed by Uzbekistan’s Husnora Rozmatova, “I Will Come” directed by Russia’s Bulat Savitov, and “Riverstone” directed by Russian Laris Lasnayake. “Wind, Talk to Me” by Stefan Djordjevic from Sri Lanka, Serbia, Slovenia and Croatia; “Two Faces of Autumn” by Ronak Taher from Iran; “Anywhere Anytime” by Milad Tansil from Italy; “Fish on the Hook” by Muhyiddin Muzaffar from Iran and Tajikistan.
“Beyond the Rails” is a story about Basak, a middle-aged, single, successful but obsessive woman. Unable to overcome the cancer she had been battling for many years, she decided to commit suicide. She is waiting between the railroad tracks for the train that will take her to her death.
“Round 13” depicts Kamel, a former boxing champion, happily married to Samia and deeply in love with their only son, Sabri. Their lives change forever when Sabri is diagnosed with a malignant tumor.
In “Water Lilies”, Hyowon, who dreams of becoming an actress, runs away from home with Eunseo from the countryside. Hyowon begins taking acting lessons from Sooyoung, the lead actor, in order to become a member of the theater troupe. Eun-seo suddenly needs money for Hyow-won’s lessons, so she starts working at a shabby restaurant.
The story of “Song of Sastchochin” takes place in an isolated village in Uzbekistan. There the land is dry and the voices of those who are afraid to speak cannot be heard. Arbor, a former government official, faces a cruel truth that the village would rather forget. It was about a young girl who had just recently turned 16 whose honor had been abused. However, instead of regaining justice, she is isolated from society, and those who try to defend her are brutally imprisoned.
“I Will Come” is about 16-year-old Timofey, who is foolishly sent to a juvenile detention center, but escapes during a concert outside the venue and finds his seriously ill grandmother (his only family), who has not responded to his letters for two months. Following him is Marek, an 8-year-old street kid. He causes nothing but uncontrollable problems along the way. Timofey’s journey home in search of his grandmother becomes a test for both boys and helps them understand the true meaning of friendship, honesty and justice.
“Riverstone” follows three Sri Lankan police officers as they escort a prisoner through a mountainous region. Their personal struggles emerge as they face moral dilemmas, power relations, and ethnic tensions on their journey.
In “Talk to Me,” Stefan hits a dog with his car and decides to take the dog to his hometown’s lake to complete a film about his recently deceased mother.
“The Two Faces of Autumn” depicts Mahan’s unconventional lifestyle, the concerns of Eva’s paternal grandmother, and the untold secrets of Saman and Arash’s past that gradually come to light and lead to a series of unexpected events.
“Anywhere Anytime” is the story of a young man who lives in the shadows of an Italian metropolis and finds work as a delivery boy. The theft of his bicycle sets off a series of life-changing events.
“Fish on the Hook” is the story of Dara, a 10-year-old boarding school student, who goes on a journey with Samad, a gambler, to find his mother, Kulsheda. Along the way, they face various challenges that help Darrah grow and understand the importance of choice. When a boy meets his mother, he must make a fateful decision that could change his life forever.
broken olive branch section
The Broken Olive Branch section celebrates films that explore resilience, resistance, and the human search for peace. This year’s selections are “Bassima’s Womb” by Canada’s Babek Alyassa, “Valley of Exile” by Canada-Lebanon’s Anna Farr, “Angels Don’t Die” by Iran’s Mohammad Reza Abolhassani, and “Raseef Beirut” by Lebanon-Palestinian Farah Al-Hashim.
The four films in this section are co-productions from several countries: From Ground Zero directed by Rashid Masharawi (Palestine/France/Qatar/UAE/Switzerland/Denmark), Palestine 36 directed by Annemarie Jassir (Palestine/UK/France/Denmark/Norway/Qatar/Saudi Arabia/Jordan), and All That’s Left of directed by Sherien. You” Davis (Germany/Cyprus/Palestine/Jordan/Greece/Qatar/Saudi Arabia), “A State of Passion” by Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi (Lebanon/Palestine/Jordan/UK/Kuwait).
“Bassima’s Womb” is about an undocumented Syrian woman who agrees to become a surrogate mother in exchange for a fake passport to bring her deported husband back to Canada. However, she finds out that she is already pregnant and has to give up her child.
In Valley of Exile, two sisters arrive in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley at the outbreak of the Syrian war and embark on a journey of exile that tests their loyalty to their country, family, and each other.
“Angels Never Die” depicts the daily life and fate of the people of Gaza, from the beginning of Israel’s ground operations to the full experience of forced displacement.
“Ratheif Beirut” is set in the midst of the genocide in Gaza. In a letter to his late friend Essam Abdullah, Farah mourns the suffering of Beirut and Jerusalem in his absence, and the sweet reality of Palestinian liberation.
From Ground Zero is a collection of 22 short films made in Gaza. The project, initiated by Palestinian filmmaker Rashid Masharawi, was created to bring together 22 Gazan filmmakers to tell the untold stories of the current war on film.
The story of “Palestine 36” takes place in 1936. As Palestinian villages revolt against British colonial rule, Yusuf travels between Jerusalem and his rural hometown at a time of growing unrest and a pivotal moment for the British Empire.
In “All That’s Left of You,” after a Palestinian teen gets caught up in a protest in the West Bank, his mother tells her family’s story of hope, courage, and constant struggle that led to this fateful moment.
“A State of Passion” centers on a war surgeon who emerges from Gaza seeking justice and accountability after witnessing the unprecedented horror of an ongoing massacre.
The Future Frames and Broken Olive Branch sections offer audiences a unique window into contemporary cinema, from new voices shaping the future of filmmaking to films that reflect humanity’s courage and resilience.
The 43rd Fajr International Film Festival will be held in Shiraz until December 3rd.
SS/SAB