FIff juror notes on cinema and God

A jury member of the 36th Fajr International Film Festival (FIff) has said one cannot see God via cinema, but it could take one closer to Him.

Thomas Kroll, who was a member of the jury panel of the interfaith section at the 36th FIff, pinpointed the prominence of cinema in bringing proximity to God, during an interview on the sidelines of the festival.

He noted his interest in cinema and that he has done a degree in theology, saying that he had not thought seriously about cinema until he went to university, after which he passed courses on filmmaking for a year.

Recalling biblical stories as he would watch movies back then, Kroll started to think that cinema could be the right medium for a theological narrative, which possessed a great potential to take people closer to God.

He went on to say that films can teach one how to live the right way, though there are movies functioning just the other way around.

The filmmaker stressed the splendid result of screening a mixture of music, visuals and acting, which can amaze the audience.

Kroll also emphasized the good flicks revolving around the lives of God’s prophets and encouraged people to watch them.

The scholar has so far been on the jury panel of some filmfests in Berlin, Locarno, and Montreal, and is a director of religious dissemination in Hamburg, Germany. He has also written several books on film and religion.

The 36th edition of the FIff took place in Tehran on April 19-27, 2018.

MF/MG