Khazaei: “sanctions-oriented thinking” is doomed to failure in the field of culture and cinema
According to Fars news agency, the opening ceremony of “Russian Film Days” was held in the evening of Saturday, January 3, with the presence of Iran’s senior film directors, the Russian ambassador and special guests of Russian cinema in the Abbas Kiarostami Memorial Hall of the Farabi Cinema Foundation.
At the beginning of this program, Seyed Mehdi Javadi, the CEO of Farabi Cinema Foundation, while welcoming the Russian ambassador and the country’s delegation to Iran, said: the history of more than 100 years of cinema activity in Russia and Iran has caused the cultural and cinematic relations of these two countries to be more than reach from a century. Cooperation and interaction with Russian cinema with the presence of a high-ranking Iranian delegation headed by Dr. Khazaei in the past few months marked a new chapter for Iranian and Russian cinema.
CEO Farabi continued: Cooperation in joint production of movies, mutual screening of movies in two countries, joint events and film weeks have been part of the great agreements between Iranian and Russian cinema. The holding of Russian film days in Iran can be the first executive step for the realization of these agreements and I hope that soon we will see the screening of Iranian films on the screens of Russian cinemas and the production of joint films between the two countries.
Stating that cinema is the best window to express the cultural commonalities of the two countries, he pointed out that these commonalities are rooted in the common pains, joys and experiences of the neighboring countries of Russia and Iran. I hope that the holding of Russia Days in Iran will make the modern Russian cinema as well as its literature known in Iran with the greats such as Dostoyevsky, Chekhov, Tolstoy, etc. and be introduced to the people of Iran. A movie that Iranians remember with great filmmakers such as Andrei Tarkovsky and Sergei Eisenstein.
Javadi added: The mutual presence of Russian films in Iranian film events such as the Fajr, Children and Youth, Short and Documentary Film Festivals and the presence of Iranian films in the Moscow Film Festival and other Russian cinema events shows the strong history of cultural cooperation between the two countries and I hope that “Cinema Days “Russia in Iran” is the beginning of film interactions between the two countries.
Cinema brings people closer to each other
Russian Ambassador Alexei Dedov, appearing on stage and expressing his satisfaction with the provision of conditions for the introduction of modern Russian cinema to the people of Iran, said: “Russian Film Days in Iran is a very important event and we should thank the Farabi Cinema Foundation, the Union of Russian Cinematographers and the Iranian Cinema Organization for Thank you for holding it.
He continued: “Unfortunately, we had little time to prepare for the Russian Film Days, but my colleagues did their best so that we could show these films to you.” Filmmakers and cinema bring people closer to each other and make people know each other better. In addition, a series of human issues and values are hidden in the institution and history of cinema. Russia and Iran, like each other, have a very rich cultural heritage.
Dedov stated: If we want to look closely at the common Iranian and Russian cinema industry, we find the commonality of both of them in making and presenting spiritual films that are not made solely for the purpose of commercial cinema. This common goal is to show beauty, love, loyalty, courage, honesty and spirituality, and in Russia they are interested in the Iranian film industry for this very reason.
He added: The proof of my statement is the Moscow International Film Festival, where Iranian films are shown a lot. I must also thank the Iranian colleagues and the Russian cinema planners in Iran for their support in holding the Russian Film Days.
Next, the message of Nikita Sergeevich Mikhalkov, the head of the Union of Cinematographers of the Russian Federation, was read.
In this message, he said: “I am happy to welcome you to the screening program of Russian films in Iran. For some, this program may not be the first program to watch our cinema, but for others who have not had this experience, it will be a window to another world. We tried to present films from Russian cinema in studios of different regions, which, in the first place, provides the possibility of evaluating Russian cinema and provides the possibility of relative familiarity with the way of life of Russian people. We look to tomorrow with confidence and hope to expand the relations between Iranian and Russian cinematographers. This will make the audiences and people of the two countries get to know each other, and the expansion of communication between the two countries will also lead to the gradual continuation of this process.
* Wishing you an exciting meeting at the opening of the Russian Film Days
The video message of Dmitry Anatolovich Davydenko, the head of the Department of Cinema and Digital Industry Development of the Ministry of Culture of Russia, was the next part of the ceremony. In parts of this video message, he said: Although the selection of films that we have brought to be shown on Russian Film Days are few, they are important for the way of showing the daily life of the Russian people. Relations between Iran and Russia are long-standing and Iranian movies have been screened in Russia many times. Our cinema needs strengthening. We have selected good works to be shown in Iran and we hope to pave the way for the production of joint projects. I look forward to seeing you all again at an exciting opening.
* An alternative similar to Oscar
Valery Ivanovich Tonkikh, the head of the Russian delegation and the deputy head of the Union of Russian Cinematographers, while introducing the Russian cinematographers present at the meeting, said: “This is the first time I am traveling to Iran, and even though it has been two days since our trip, I must say that we are good friends here.” We have found a short time and our hearts have been filled with the love and hospitality of the people of Iran, for which I must thank you. This is not only my words, but the words of all the members of the delegation from Russian cinema to Iran.
He added: Just today, I had about six interviews with Iranian news agencies and TV channels, who asked about the goals of our trip to Iran, and I must say that these joint events between the countries will expand and strengthen the relations between Iran and Russia. Of course, the films we have chosen for screening will be noticed, but our goal is to create joint projects between Iranian and Russian cinema and continue them. This kind of events can be like holding Iranian film days in Russia. Although we have had such programs before.
The deputy head of the Union of Russian Cinematographers emphasized: We have come to Iran for two main purposes; First, the creation of the “Caspian” Cinema Society and the “Eurasia” Cinema Academy. I know that there are many commonalities between Iran and Russia and we can show the same issues in these two spaces and have an alternative similar to Oscar with a unique award. Today, we discussed these two projects with the Farabi Cinema Foundation and came up with good solutions for their implementation.
* Cinematographers open a way to people’s hearts with the language of art
Mohammad Khazaei, the head of the cinema organization, also attended the opening and said: “I am happy that finally, the possibility of holding “Russian Cinema Days in Tehran” has been made possible, and through the development of relations between the two countries, Iran and Russia, cinema enthusiasts can enjoy a selection of the latest Russian cinematographic works. Become familiar.
Iranian modern cinema emerged in the period of renaissance and renaissance, after the victory of the Islamic Revolution, Iranian films have established a sensory and emotional connection with Russian audiences many times in Russian film festivals and gatherings, and in various Russian festivals, including the Moscow Police Film Festival, the Golden Pulpit Kazan and the main festival of Moscow and… have been shown.
He added: On the other hand, at the Fajr International Film Festival in Tehran, Russian films and cinematographers have been discussed many times, and many articles and notes have been published by Iranian critics and teachers about the aesthetic and poetic aspects of Russian films. “Russian Cinema Days in Tehran” shows that with the signing and exchange of the memorandum between Iran and Russia, the responsible parties in both countries are determined to operationalize the areas of interest and give more depth to cultural and political relations.
The head of the cinema organization pointed out: During the trip to Moscow in August 2022 and the meeting with the Deputy Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation, I will emphasize and repeat now the cultural and social dialogue and understanding in today’s world. Iranian cinema has shown that it defies sanctions. We have experienced many sanctions, but the cultural sanctions were not and are not effective. Let me say more simply that cinematographers do not necessarily see the existence and the world through the limited lens of politicians, and they like to open a way to the hearts of people with the language of art and be a painter of beauty, peace and compassion.
He stated: “Unfortunately, the West has always tried to challenge our cultural heritage and civilizational and artistic foundations with its policy of unilateralism and monopolization, and in this way it has adopted the strategy of sanctions, but I believe that “sanctions-based thinking” is especially important in The field of culture and cinema is doomed to failure and this is a fact that politicians should pay attention to.
Khazai stated that today’s world is witnessing the formation of new cultural poles and said: This process will not stop with sanctions. So let’s appreciate the opportunity created to expand the film cooperation between the two countries. In the field of culture and especially cinema, we should not summarize everything in government relations. It is good to help private sector activists and film production companies of the two countries to practice the way of interaction and dialogue with each other and to remove the obstacles in joint production or screening and screening of films in cinemas and other platforms. In this case, with the change of governments and officials, relations and film cooperation will not change. We expect that by using the sustainable cultural capacities of the two countries, such as the capacity of cinemas, platforms, museums, scientific and academic centers, etc., the field of cooperation will be continuously formed.
He added: Iranian audiences remember Russian cinema more with the films of the generation of filmmakers from the Soviet Union period. It is necessary for Iranian enthusiasts to get to know the new generation of Russian cinematographers better and more, and such film weeks are a good opportunity to get to know contemporary Russian cinema.
The Deputy Minister of Cinematic Culture and Islamic Guidance stated: These points can be confirmed that the capacity of cooperation between the two countries due to their common historical and cultural interests on the one hand, as well as the same theoretical point of view of Iran and Russia on many regional issues and their common position in facing With the policy of unilateralism and the alleged new order of the West, it is more than this, and we should think more seriously about joint productions, film screenings in two countries, and sharing educational and technological achievements.
At the end of his speech, Khazaei thanked the Farabi Cinema Foundation, Islamic Culture and Communication Organization, Iran’s Cultural Consultancy in Russia, the Ambassador of the Russian Federation in Iran for preparing the Russian delegation’s trip to Iran and said: The efforts of the Ministry of Culture of Russia to design the Cinema Days event I appreciate Russia in Tehran and I hope this ceremony will be the beginning of the expansion of film interactions between the two countries.
At the end of the ceremony, the film “Don’t Bury Me Without Ivan” directed by Lyubov Barisova was shown.
Mohammad Khazaei, Director of Cinema Organization, Russian Ambassador Alexey Dedov, Seyed Mehdi Javadi, CEO of Farabi Cinema Foundation, Mohammad Ali Kayani, Director General of Cultural Cooperation and Affairs of Iranians Abroad, Organization of Islamic Culture and Communications, Raed Faridzadeh, Vice President of International Affairs, Asghar Farsi, Vice President of Development of Management and Resources of Cinema Organization Alireza Esmaili, Director General of the Department of Cinematography Organization, Dmitry Anatolovich David Neko, Head of the Russian Delegation and Deputy of the Union of Russian Cinematographers, Valery Ivanovich Tonkikh, Head of the Russian Delegation, Alexander Alexander Vych Salamonov, Senior Employee of the Department of Foreign Relations of the Union of Russian Cinematographers, Ivan Kimovich Bolotnikov, the producer of the film ” Don’t bury me without Ivan”, Galina Mikhailovna Sitsko, producer of the movie “Elsa Land” and… were among those present at this ceremony.
end of message/