Head of International Affairs Amir Esfandiari says 1300 films were submitted to the Fajr Secretariat from across the world, of which 120 titles were selected for screening and competition in different parts of this year’s Festival.
The sections include: Cinema Salvation (International Competition), Panorama of Films from Asian and Islamic Countries (Eastern Vista), Cup of Divination (Festival of Festivals), Docs in Focus, Classics Preserved, Special Screening (Best Countries and Our World), Magic Lantern, Broken Olive Branches, A Retrospective of Italian Cinema, A Retrospective of Georgian Cinema, Cinema Bell, and German Short Film Festival.
According to Esfandiari, A-listers from across the globe are also gearing up to descend on the Iranian capital for the 36th annual Fajr Film Festival: Last year, there were attendees from 66 countries, but this year their numbers have reached 78. Feature and short films from 45 countries will also screen to make their experience that much richer. There will be some 300 guests across the sections, including festival managers and representatives, Film Market clients, directors and cinematographers, jury members, celebrities and special guests.
He goes on to explain that award-winning directors and cinematographers will be in attendance as well: They include Karen Shakhnazarov, the Russian director of Assassin of the Tsar, whose film will be screened in the Classics Preserved section; and French director, writer and editor Olivier Megaton, who is best known for his action movies Taken 2, Taken 3, and Transporter 3. Like several other guests, he will hold workshops to help students write, direct, and produce their own action sequence for the camera with all stunt-fight training and film choreography.
On the Festival’s jury panels, Esfandiari says there will be 5 foreign and 2 Iranian jury members for International Competition, 4 foreign and 1 Iranian for Eastern Vista; 2 foreign and one Iranian for interfaith or religious cinema, and 2 foreign and 1 Iranian for NETPAC sections.
For all Festival goers who are already planning their visit, check screening time and other information at www.fajriff.com, or email us at infor@fajriff.com. Presided over by film writer and director Reza Mirkarimi, the 36th edition of Fajr International Film Festival will be held in Tehran on April 19-27.
