Isfahan opens Children filmfest, honoring teen hero Ali Landi

Paying tribute to teen national hero Ali Landi, the 34th edition of the International Film Festival for Children and Youth has been opened in Isfahan.

The opening ceremony of the event was held on Friday evening with paying tribute to the 15-year-old boy who has been hailed as a national hero for his laudable act.

Ali rushed to rescue two neighboring women trapped in a burning house in Izeh, Khuzestan Province, earlier this month. He took his last breath in the early hours of Friday morning after days of intensive care in hospital.

Addressing the opening ceremony, the president of the festival Alireza Tabesh said, “The Iranian artist community feels responsible for the future of all innocent children of the country and this year’s festival opens in memory of the teenage hero, Ali Landi.”

Wearing Ali Landi masks, the audience stood up in tribute to the national hero.

“We began this century with a pandemic and mourning; the corona crisis is the first collective memory of a generation, which is the target audience of the films selected to be screened at the festival,” Tabesh added.

He also noted that “Although the pandemic’s grief is really awful, at least, it gives us a guarantee that the younger generation has learned to deal with harsh conditions as well as about the value of cooperation and teamwork in major crises.”

“I am certain the future that will be created by this generation during this century will be more brilliant and exciting than what exists now.”

Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance Mohammad-Mehdi Esmaeeli sent a message to the festival, reading “The motto [Cinema, Land of Dreams] refers to cinema’s task of maintaining the spirit of imagination and creating a happy world for children so that they can think about tomorrow in a peaceful and friendly world by the magic of cinema.”

The official competition of the festival has been scheduled to screen nine movies, including Turkish director Ferit Karahan’s ‘Brother’s Keeper’, ‘Sumi’ by Amol Vasant Gole from India, ‘My Grandpa Is an Alien’ by Marina Andree Skop and Drazen Zarkovic from Croatia, and ‘Martin and the Magical Forest’ by Czech filmmaker Dana Klempirova.

The International Children and Youth Film Festival is organized in collaboration with Iranian Cinema Organization, Farabi Cinematic Foundation, and Isfahan Municipality.

The festival’s movies get screened in two cities of Tehran and Isfahan, both in an online format and in-person in compliance with Coronavirus safety protocols.

The 34th International Children and Youth Film Festival has been slated for October 8-13, 2021.

Read more:

Teen hero Ali Landi dies of severe burns

Int’l Film Festival for Children & Youth announces Iranian jury members

Int’l Film Festival for Children & Youth to launch first museum

Children and Youth filmfest receives over 500 films

Iran’s Children filmfest announces short film lineup

Iran’s Children filmfest announces int’l lineup

MG/MG