Iran’s children filmfest to review Smile fest’s short films

Organizers of the International Film Festival for Children and Youth (ICFF) in Isfahan have announced that the Iranian gala will review a lineup of six short films selected from India’s Smile International Film Festival for Children and Youth.

The short films, with the central themes of peace, nature and friendship, are selected from “The Kids of Picture Paathshala” category of the Indian event.

Director of the festival Alireza Tabesh said Iran’s 33rd International Film Festival for Children and Youth will be held online on October 18-23 this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

To be held in national and international sections, the gala will be organized by the Farabi Cinema Foundation, Cinema Organization of Iran, and the Isfahan Municipality.

According to the director, the variety of national and international films is extremely high.

Tabesh noted that the films will be screened at certain times and only those who have registered through the portal of the festival can watch the films online.

The official also said, “We have had several meetings with Iranian producers. We have also had meetings with several managers at the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology who will be supporting the festival. Some of the events will be held live in Isfahan, while there are plans to hold virtual workshops.”

The organizers have also invited Iranian young adults living outside the country to take part in the fourth edition of the Youth Filmmaking Olympiad of Iran.

Interested youths, aged 12 to 17, can take part in the program and submit their 5-minute short films to the festival.

Among the main topics for short films are the wishes of the youth about the future of the country, city or family and their experiences about famous books and famous films.

The Olympiad is part of a program arranged every year on the sidelines of the International Film Festival for Children and Youth.

Established in 1982, the ICFF is an annual film festival held in the historic city of Isfahan, Iran.

A wide range of quality features, short and animation films from all around the world will be displayed at the event.

Additionally, daily workshops, panels, and lectures by well-known Iranian and International cinematic figures are held at the event.

MG/AG