Fajr Int’l Film Festival kicks off

The 36th edition of the Fajr International Film Festival (FIff) has been officially commenced with screening Iranian director Majid Majidi’s ‘Beyond the Clouds’.

The official inauguration of the festival was held on Wednesday night at Tehran’s Charsou Cineplex where popular Iranian actor Reza Kianian cut a cake to commemorate 120 years of cinema in Iran.

A lineup of selected films will be screened at the Charsou Cineplex – the Festival Palace – and other venues in Tehran during the next 9 days.

The lineup includes works from around the world that will compete for the festival’s top honor.

The winners of the top honor will be announced at the closing ceremony based on the decision by the international jury which is comprised of Asian and European directors and film critics.

‘Beyond the Clouds’, which was filmed in India in 2017, revolves around the life of a young boy, Amir, and his sister, Tara, in Mumbai.

When on the run from the cops, Amir finds his estranged sister, who, in a bid to protect her brother, lands in jail. Their entire lives are clouded by despair when, unexpectedly, the light shines on them from beyond the clouds. 

A diverse lineup of movies will be screened in the official competition section of the festival named Cinema Salvation, a section dedicated to Asian filmmakers titled Eastern Vista, and a section for screening acclaimed films from various international events named Cup of Divination.

Polish director Joanna Kos-Krauze, Macedonian director Milcho Manchevski, Greek filmmaker Dimitri Athanitis, Indian director and producer Adoor Gopalakrishnan, and Italian producer Giovanni Spagnoletti, as well as cinematographer Mahmoud Kalari and actress Merila Zarei from Iran, are members of the Cinema Salvation jury.

The festival organizers will also host a number of guests from across the world.

In addition, the festival will be hosting representatives from the FIAP (International Federation of Film Producers Association) and FIPRESCI (The International Federation of Film Critics).

Established in 1982, the FIff celebrates cultural exchange, displays creative achievements of highly acclaimed cineastes and pays tribute to local and international films.

Since its establishment, the Fajr International Film Festival 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 and across the world every year.

Directed by Reza Mirkarimi, the 36th FIff has been slated for April 19-27, 2018, in the Iranian capital city of Tehran.

MG/MG