TEHRAN – An international conference on film cooperation was held on Monday night on the occasion of the 43rd Fajr International Film Festival (FIFF) with the participation of Iranian Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Seyyed Abbas Salehi.
The session was also attended by Fars Governor Hossein Ali Amiri, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmail Bakaei, and representatives of 23 countries, including Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Belarus, Bosnia, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Sri Lanka, Serbia, Kyrgyzstan, Greece, India, Armenia, France, Bolivia, Uruguay, and Russia. Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Niger and Senegal, ISNA reported.
The event aimed to explore the possibility of organizing a film week or collaborative film production in parallel with the 43rd Fajr International Film Festival. The gathering provided a platform for dialogue between international delegations seeking to strengthen cultural ties through film.
In his remarks, the Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance stressed that expanding co-production, including feature films, documentaries, animation and other film formats, is essential to realizing a more humane global vision through film. “Our ability to develop joint ventures and envision a more human-centered world depends on fostering international cooperation in filmmaking,” he said.
He also highlighted Iran’s continued efforts in pioneering innovative film technology and sharing experiences. “Iranian cinema has a glorious history and has started collaborations with various countries, such as a joint project with Pakistan on the famous poet and philosopher Allama Iqbal Lahori and a joint project with Turkey on the Persian poet and mystic Molana Jalal al-Din Rumi,” he said. “We have also begun exploring modern film technology, an asset that we can share with friendly and brotherly countries.”
Furthermore, he emphasized the importance of exchanging educational experiences and developing human resources through joint workshops, courses and institutes. He added, “Understanding each other’s natural and human environments will facilitate better location scouting. Iran’s diverse landscapes and climates, along with the unique attractions of other participating countries, offer many opportunities.”
Raed Farizadeh, Chairman of the Iranian Film Association, also spoke at the gathering, stressing the importance of cooperative efforts in the field of film.
The 43rd Fajr International Film Festival officially opened in Shiraz on November 26, welcoming around 200 international guests. The festival continues until Wednesday, with eight films showing each day in four main sections. In addition, two restored films will be screened as part of the program.
SAB/