Let us not lose the achievement of the Fajr International Festival for many years

Theater News Base: Mehdi Hosseini Vand, who participated in the Fajr International Film Festival with his film “Asteroid” and won the best film in the East Front section of Simorgh, said about attending this cinematic event: Fajr National Film was sent to the secretariat of this event, it was never accepted. “Because the approach of festivals in accepting works is different, and Iranian cinema needs events such as the Fajr International Film Festival, which has a different view and approach to cinematic works.”

In response to what the Fajr International Film Festival has done for him as a filmmaker, he replied: “My film has been screened at the Fajr International Film Festival in five, six major international festivals, including Busan, Doha and several other events. And was seen. The virtual market platform of the 38th World Film Festival also made it possible to see the movie “Asteroid”, and I received many emails and requests to show it. “In fact, Iranian and foreign independent films such as ‘Asteroid’ will be screened at the Fajr International Film Festival, and this is a great privilege.”

Editor of works such as “Bodyguard” directed by Ebrahim Hatami-Kia and “Mokhtarnameh” made by Davood Mirbagheri, about what is the privilege of Fajr International Film Festival for Iranian cinema? He explained: “Our cinema in the 70’s witnessed the production of valuable, thoughtful and cultural films, films such as the works of Abolfazl Jalili, Amir Naderi, Abbas Kiarostami, etc., which happened to enjoy an important place in festivals, including commercial films. Focused on body cinema did not have much of a place in festivals. A positive and useful approach to cinema, which unfortunately did not last long and has faded in the last decade with the change in the managerial view of cinema. “In fact, in this period, the economics of cinema became more important than the thought-provoking nature of films, and this change of perspective led to the presence of films that are more commercial and public in the Fajr Film Festival.”

The filmmaker stressed: “When the Fajr Festival took the same approach and went to the selection of high-profile and face-oriented films to be seen more, independent and thought-oriented films no longer had a place in the Fajr Festival and were not accepted in this event. I remember assembling a few films in those years that I thought were suitable for the festival, but none were selected. But fortunately, after the separation from the Fajr National Film Festival, the Fajr International Film Festival filled this gap well and became an event that showed thought-oriented, concerned and independent films with a cultural and universal perspective, and an opportunity to introduce Iranian films. Created to world cinema. “This approach has led to the resurgence of a truly international event that cares about independent cinema.”

He, who has experience working with directors such as Hassan Fathi and Massoud Jafari Jozani, warned of the loss of this great achievement for Iranian cinema, referring to the importance of awarding the first degree to the Fajr International Film Festival by FIAPF. The suspicion that FIAPF awarded the first degree to the Fajr International Film Festival is a great achievement, and if the merger of the two festivals takes away this important opportunity from Iranian cinema, I think it is very wrong, and the authorities should think about it. In fact, holding the festival is like a couple of reliefs that have brought a number of runs and brought it to its current point, and now the new officials who have taken the stick from the previous officials must continue this path and not only prevent the loss of this important credit for cinema. “They should become Iranians, but take a more thoughtful and logical approach in this regard.”

“Of course, I worked with Mr. Khazaei as a producer. He is a talker and I hope he does not let this achievement, which is the result of the efforts of cinematographers for many years, be easily lost.”

“I recently attended the Busan and Doha Film Festivals and saw closely how much the organizers are spending to introduce the festivals to the world,” he said, emphasizing the ongoing efforts of film festivals in Asia and the region to consolidate their position in the world. Make your festival a big event in Asia and the region and be the best. “But we have such an event, and it is very strange that we want to miss it, and the authorities must reconsider.”