Iranian officials including the Head of Iranian Cinema Organization, Mohammad Mehdi Heidarian Visited the opening day of the 36th edition of Fajr international film festival kicked off today in Tehran at Charsou Cinema complex. University and middle school students attended the two sections including Daroulfonoun and the 7th Hour started today aiming to motivate them to watch and learn more.
Following comes the interview with Mohammad Mehdi Heidarian,
1. As you know Fajr International Film Festival has been held for 36
years which has received significant attention from various countries from Middle East to America especially last three years been directly covered by international media including Arabic and English ones. This year due to the participation of famous film directors in Fajr festival, the reflection of it has been noticeable. Would you please tell me your own opinion about this year’s Fajr International Film Festival and cooperation of countries following same goals as Iran does?
Iran’s cinema is celebrating its 120 year of existence. After revolution our cinema has flourished and proved its capability to the world and because of that most of the festivals around the world are eager to have Iranian films in their festivals. These days we are thinking about not only participating in foreign festivals but also having our own international festivals and influencing the world. To reach this goal, Fajr International Film Festival has been designed and it’s being held every year. We are looking for bounding with other cultures .our main focus in this festival is to reach this aim.
2. This year’s festival has been specifically reflected in many international countries ‘and medias, specially Arabic and Islamic news agencies, what’s your opinion about it?
We are culturally and religiously bounded to countries in region, so we can have more sympathy toward each other. Festivals make these attachments much more clear so we should make the most of it.
3. During the festival we will have an art gallery about Palestinian people and a famous Palestinian director is going to attend the festival, how do you comment about these sections?
As I already mentioned, we are totally bounded to other countries in the region and one of our main concern is not only Palestinian Muslims, but we are also concerned about all Muslims around the world.
Our concern is beyond the borders. We should follow what people believe in and work on that .Fajr International Film Festival has always included various sections with similar contexts hoping they could meet the specific purposes in this regard. We hope that these sections could satisfy those whose major concern is freedom from hegemony
4.As you know this year many significant film makers have been invited from across the world, how do you see that?
As I already told you we aim to find those who are seeking independence. And everyone can reflect this differently in his/her culture. For example Mr. Oliver Stone objects to the politics in his own country or the Palestinian director who tries to depicts people’s suffering from cruelty and injustice. As my last sentence I need to say the major responsibility of the festival has to be creating an atmosphere in which people have the same concern which is humanity.