Tehran – The closing ceremony of the 18th Resistance International Film Festival took place at Vahdat Hall on Saturday night to honor recipients in various categories.
Speaking at the ceremony, the festival’s secretary, Jalal Gafari, marked the end of the end of tonight’s 18th edition. Thanks to the efforts of those who organized it in the 17th edition, we have reached this stage.
“Through the festival, I continued to reflect on why the Resistance Festival awards are important to artists. The value is not financial, but rather rooted in the goals and ideals it represents,” he added.
“The international section submitted works from Tunisia, Argentina, Russia, Iraq and others. A total of over 3,500 films were received. All registration and screening phases were managed smoothly through an organized system,” he explained.
“The number of submissions has almost doubled, inspired by the events that followed Al-Axa Storm.
He pointed out that resistance is a voice heard by freedom lovers around the world.
Gafari also hoped that the festival’s closure marks a bright beginning and underscores the importance of continuing to speak films about resistance.
In the main section of the festival, the wartime drama “Majnoon,” centered around Major Mahdi Zeinoddin of Martyr, won multiple awards. In the film music category, the best music awards were sent to Majid Entezami for “Majinoon.” Additionally, “Majnoon” has secured Behzad Jafari’s best set design and Saeid Barati’s best cinema shoot.
“Majnoon” also won the Juju Special Award. Produced by the OWJ Arts and Media Organization, the film focuses on the courageous actions of Mehdi Zeinoddin, one of the prominent Iranian martyrs who showed leadership during his youth, especially during the Iranian and Iraq War (1980-1989), especially on Majnoon Island during Operation Khaybar.
The film “North by Southwest” by Hamid Zargarnejad was recognized for the best editing awarded to Majid Taromi, along with the best scripts shared by Zargarnejad, Seyyed Mohammad Hosseini and Mohammad Javad Eslami. Benaz Jafari has won an honorable mention for the best actress in her role in the film.
Opposed to the background of the Iran-Iraq war, the “Northwest Southwest” follows Mahdi, a security guard tasked with solving the mysterious disappearance of trucks carrying explosives. His investigation leads him to a secret group led by Majid, a mysterious and vague figure, and Zohreh, who operates deep in the Northern Woods. Despite their outward religious devotion, the group is involved in destructive sabotage.
Mehdi Jafari’s “Hoor’s Tears” received the honorable mention of Royal Afshar’s Best Actress Award, and Kheirollah Taqianipour’s “The Heart of Raqqah” received the honorable mention of Shahram Haqiqatdoost’s Best Actor.
“Kianoush’s Garden” won Reza Keshavarz for his best first time director award, and the best film award was given to “North by Southwest.”
The international section of the festival was awarded the Best Long Documentary Award for “Balkhab’s Land” by Zohreh Fazeli in Afghanistan.
The Best Short Fiction Film Award was presented to “Al-Ahd” by Morteza Jassem of Iraq.
The festival badge was awarded to Seyed Ahmad Mousavi, producer of the QAF Institute in Iraq.
The best medium-length documentary was awarded to “Talarat Fashad” by Hassan Khalifa of Lebanon.
The review certificate was sent to Fateme Gorban’s Syrian documentary, “Maqtub.”
The Best Long Documentary Award was sent to “Artoum Sumo” in Russia.
The best short fiction award was given to “Shared Sky” by Seyed Fahim Haider in Pakistan.
I received the Martyr Avini Badge in the national documentary section produced by Mohammad Habibi Mansour. Badges are given to films that match Martyr Avini’s perspective.
The Best Documentary Director Award was awarded to Seyed Musie Daljoseini for “Seven Years.”
Ehsan Sabori won the Best Short Documentary Director Award for “Last Farewell.”
The Best Research Award was presented to Farshad Ektesabi for “The Bottn Line.”
A special juju Award was awarded for “1 square meter of soil” by director Nima Mahdian.
The award for Best Director of the Featured Documentary in the Withindirael section of Israel was awarded to Modhtabamina Band’s “The Man of Victory”.
The best short documentary director award in the same section was awarded to “Yahya’s Dream” by Hossein Elham.
In the main documentary category, “Before I Forget You” by Abdolreza Nematollahi was awarded the Best Featured Documentary Award.
The best director of the featured documentary went to “Bano” directed by Mohammad Habibi Mansoor.
The best short documentary award was given to “Angels” by Mehdi Zamanpour Kiasari.
The best research award was given to Hassan Nakasi for being “written.”
The Best Artistic Achievement Awards were shared by Saeid Houshmand and Ali-Mohammad Khaniki for the documentary “The Rainy Story.”
The best editing award was sent to Amir Chabahari for “Yahya’s Dream”.
The Jue Special Award for this section was awarded to “I Love Muhammad Hossein”, directed by Seyed Mohammad Mohammadi Seresht.
The Revolution and Sacred Defense Film Association and the Revayat Foundation organize the Resistance International Film Festival every year.
The festival is an important platform for the promotion and dissemination of film productions that embody the spirit of resistance to injustice, oppression and inequality.
Photo: On May 24, 2025, Iranian musician Majid Entezami (second from right) won the award for best music at the closing ceremony of the 18th International Resistance Film Festival in Tehran.
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