TEHRAN – The 20th International Resistance Theater Festival has introduced a new section called “Nation” for its next edition.
This new section is aimed at promoting the participation of foreign groups in Iran and paving the way for selected performances to be staged abroad, Festival Secretary-General Mohammad Kazemtabar announced at a press conference in Tehran’s Aerospace National Park on Monday.
Commenting on the choice of venue, Kazemtabar said: “Aerospace National Park was chosen because it symbolizes the 12-day war waged by the Zionist regime against our beloved Iran. This war showed more than ever the strength of the country and the sacrifices of its soldiers and people. This place represents the dignity and victory of the army and the nation, and we wanted to remind everyone of this fact at the beginning of the festival.”
He added: “Another reason for choosing this location was to honor the martyr Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, Commander of the Aerospace Forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). We hope to create an outstanding theatrical production depicting his life.”
The festival director emphasized that this year’s call for entries was also inspired by the heroic resilience of the 12-day war and the strength of the Iranian people. “Our aim was to give a glimpse of the courage of the time through theatrical art. As a result, the theme of the festival was to highlight the 12 Days of War,” he explained.
To this end, a new playwriting section titled “12” was introduced, encouraging playwrights to portray the stories of ordinary people, brave soldiers and martyrs of the time. Special awards will be given to the best stage and street theater productions on the theme of the Twelve Days War.
He also explained that the Horizon of Resistance section includes street theater and playwriting workshops aimed at supporting emerging groups and discovering new talent. The produced works will first be performed at the group’s home base before proceeding directly to the main section of the festival.
Looking back on last year’s festival, Kazemtabar said that 15 provinces participated in stage plays and 18 provinces participated in street plays, making a total of 23 provinces participating. “Our goal this year is to expand the Resistance Horizon section and embrace more provinces across Iran,” he said.
He also highlighted that last year’s festival attracted around 27,000 spectators to the stage performances, bringing the total number of visitors close to 60,000. “This year we aim to further increase this number,” he added.
He emphasized the importance of creating more works related to aerospace martyrs and missile heroes.
The commemoration of the martyr Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh was also a highlight of the event, with the martyr’s son Alireza Hajizadeh also taking part in the ceremony. A portrait of Hajizadeh was also presented on behalf of the festival organizing committee in his memory.
The event ended with the release of the poster for the 20th Resistance Theater Festival.
The festival, organized by the Revolutionary Theater and the Sacred Defense Association and the Rebayat-e-Fat Cultural Foundation, is scheduled to be held in Tehran and various cities of the country during the Holy Defense Week (September 22-29, 2026).
The 20th International Resistance Theater Festival will be held across Iran, attracting audiences and artists from all over the country.
SAB/