Fajrfest best doc winner asks for exact selection rules

Award-winning director Babak Behdad has criticized the lack of exact rules for selecting and screening documentaries at the Fajr Film Festival (FFF).

Behdad, winner of Best Documentary award at the 37th Fajr Film Festival, said he is delighted for taking the Simorgh Crystal, but the festival needs to specify exact rules for selecting the documentaries which are to compete at the event.

He added the lack of such rules and the change of festival’s policies hurt documentary films.

In Behdad’s opinion, the festival must have accurate rules and secretaries of the FFF to act in compliance with.

Behdad also said he watched the documentary along with the audience and heard their views.

After a successful screening at the Cinema Verite, ‘Baharestan House of Nation’ has garnered Crystal Simorgh award for the best documentary at 37th Fajr Film Festival.

The FFF coincides with the ten-day Fajr ceremonies across Iran, marking the 40th anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Since its establishment in 1982, the FFF has played a vital role in the development of Iranian Cinema.

Supervised by Iran’s Ministry of Culture, the festival hosts veteran directors and new filmmakers from Iran every year.

This is while the international version of the Fajr Film Festival will be held in April 2019.

The 37th FFF kicked off on January 30, 2019, and ran until February 11 in Tehran and a selection of other Iranian cities.

PR/MG