Iran’s children filmfest names int’l selection board

The 32nd edition of the International Film Festival for Children and Youth (ICFF) has named members of the International Selection Board.

The board is comprised of Jamal Omid, Mohammad Hamidi-Moqadam, Raed Faridzadeh, Farzad Azhdari and Hamed Soleimanzadeh.

Omid is caretaker of National Film Archive of Iran, executive manager of the Fajr Film Festival, managing director of Cinema Museum, historian and researcher in the fields of Iranian cinema.

Hamidi-Moqaddam is a producer and director of television. He has produced several TV shows related to cinema. He was manager of international department of the International Resistance Festival in 1991 and cooperated with tens of film festivals and cinematic events.

Faridzadeh is director of the Supreme Council for the International Affairs of the Iranian Cinema. He has collaborated with Iranian Youth Cinema Society as well as the Documentary and Experimental Film Center.

Azhdari is children’s film director and screenwriter as well as cinema lecturer. He was executive secretary and member of selection and jury boards at the Fajr Film Festival and the ICFF, member of International Selection Board and head of the secretariat office of the ICFF.

Soleimanzadeh is a cinema critic, researcher and university lecturer. He was director of the international department of 31st ICFF, director of the international department of 21st Iran International University Theater Festival and jury member of various domestic and international film festivals.

According to the 32nd ICFF website, the event aims to enhance the cinematic products of this age bracket and introduce the top works in national and international arenas.

The festival aims to promote ethical values such as family unity, appropriate lifestyle, respect for humanity, self-esteem, social responsibility, environmental protection and it also seeks to create awareness of the uprising future challenges.

The ICFF is organized annually by the Iranian Organization of Cinema and Audiovisual Affairs, Farabi Cinema Foundation and the Municipality of Isfahan.

Showcasing quality national and international films and works for children and young adults; creating a platform for the presence of professionals and cineastes active in the cinema industry for children and young adults; boosting collaboration and production of films for children and young adults by creating interaction among creators, experts and the audience; and promoting knowledge transfer and exchange of products of high artistic value, capable of contributing to cultural as well as social growth are among main objectives of the festival.

The 32nd ICFF is slated for August 19-28, 2019 in the Iranian historic city of Isfahan.

MG/AG