Iran pavilion at Cannes pays tribute to Minab kids

The Iranian pavilion at the 79th Cannes Film Market in France has paid tribute to the memory of the martyred children in Minab.

The Farabi Cinema Foundation (FCF) has set up the Iranian Cinema Umbrella at the 79th Cannes Film Market (Marché du Film), representing the country's film industry at the prestigious global event.

Reflecting the current atmosphere in Iran following the Ramadan War, the Iranian pavilion has been dedicated to the memory of the martyred children in Minab.

A memorial book has also been placed at the booth, allowing visitors to pay their respects to the young victims of the conflict.

The pavilion features a diverse range of productions, including classic films from the FCF archives and selected works by the late director Daryoush Mehrjouee.

New productions from the FCF, as well as the latest offerings from the Documentary and Experimental Film Center (DEFC) and the Iranian Youth Cinema Society (IYCS), are also presented to international buyers and festival programmers.

A primary objective for the FCF is to initiate negotiations for international co-productions, especially on a cinematic project dedicated to the martyred students of the Shajareh Tayyebeh School in Minab. The project seeks to immortalize the story of these students through a collaborative international production.

The tragedy at the Shajareh Tayyebeh elementary school in Minab, Hormozgan Province, occurred on February 28, 2026, marking a catastrophic loss of life during the initial strikes launched by the US and Israel against Iran. 

As dozens of students aged between 7 and 12 were beginning their morning lessons, the facility was targeted by a series of deliberate missile strikes that caused the entire building to collapse; which resulted in the confirmed deaths of over 168 civilians, mostly schoolchildren.

The 79th edition of the Cannes Film Festival has been set for May 12-23 in France.