Farabi does not intend to make a film just to participate in the festival

Charso Press: Masoud Ahmadian, cultural deputy of the Farabi Cinema Foundation, said about the criteria of the license fund (development of children’s cinema): Currently, the system of receiving projects is closed and the process of reading and reviewing them is underway. What is important for us in the selections is the script design and its appeal in the first place.

He continued: In fact, Farabi’s ideals and wishes as the trustee of Parvaneh Fund in support of children’s and youth cinema were also announced in the call of this fund earlier. Of course, this does not mean that the filmmakers who have registered a project different from the mentioned topics will not be considered, but in this process, the process of discovering good talents and projects is also carried out, and it is possible to make the film based on the recognition and capabilities of the filmmaker. The other should be entrusted to him.

In response to whether or not Farabi’s screenplay clinic is also involved in this process to modify some plans, he said: No, the screenplay clinic is related to screenplays whose producer and director have already been finalized and whose script has also been approved by Farabi. But because the script needs to be improved, the text is given to a group of experts to be improved with terms, but the license fund has only accepted the proposals of the applicants.

He said about the number of projects considered by Farabi to support their production in the license fund: 212 projects and scripts were registered in the system, and the final selection depends on the story capabilities and attractiveness of the projects. Also, due to economic inflation and the continuous increase in film production costs, it is not possible to accurately say that the minimum budget required to make a professional film is currently several billions. In addition, it is possible that until this summer, which is usually the period of production of films in Iranian cinema, the prices will increase again. Therefore, according to all aspects and these conditions, the amount of the support budget and the number of films will be determined.

In response to some comments on the showing of Farabi’s two films on TV in Nowruz 1402, he said: Today, this confusion and mixing of mediums is an event in itself and deserves investigation. But we have to ask ourselves this question between the movies that our generation used to go to and were placed in a theater with excitement and collective emotions to be happy or sad with the movie, does this definition of cinema as entertainment still work? In the 60s, being in a movie theater was perhaps a ritual; But does this approach and view of cinema really exist today?!

He continued: In addition, today, after the Corona crisis or with the launch and development of platforms, the audience’s habits regarding watching movies have fundamentally changed. Also, the advancement of technology and the quality of televisions that exist in some homes are sometimes no less than a movie theater. In addition, when we talk about children’s and teenagers’ cinema, some families may prefer their children to watch movies with them at home, so we have to consider all aspects of this story and then judge.

Referring to the goals of the children and youth cinema development fund, he said: The license fund and the holding of the international children and youth film festival will make many of our structures in the children and youth cinema to be reviewed and to think that a children and youth film should What are the values ​​that create this need in families and their children, and this makes our responsibility in choosing projects and supporting them harder. In my opinion, with Farabi’s trend in 1402, it is more important for the Iranian National Cinema Institute to satisfy the tastes of cinemagoers, and Farabi does not intend to make films to participate in festivals. Nevertheless, we try not to reinvent the so-called wheel, and the propeller box has an outlet.

He explained about the minimum and maximum selected projects to be turned into a children’s and youth film: According to the budget we have, my prediction is to support at least three projects and a maximum of 5 projects to make the film. Unless the budget at the time of allocation is not enough to make this number or the quality of the submitted works is not suitable for selection and certainty, but I think it is more logical to choose 4 projects so that we can screen at least one film for children and teenagers for each season.

Ahmadian also said about the budget limit for film support: the allocation of how much of the budget to each of the selected projects depends on the project itself and its story, topic and conditions, it is more favorable for us. The amount of budget allocated to each of the films should be determined step by step according to the estimates and plans made in the continuation of the work. We are currently in the phase of reviewing the plans and it is too early to announce any certainty.