Fajr Film Festival’s Int’l Section to be held separately
The Fajr Film Festival has a new director, Manouchehr Shahsavari, who has been appointed by Raed Faridzadeh, the head of Cinema Organization of Iran.
Shahsavari’s appointment comes just under three months before the festival is set to take place, ILNA wrote.
Faridzadeh has issued a decree naming Shahsavari as the director of the 43rd Fajr Film Festival. The decree highlights Shahsavari’s expertise, commitment, and valuable experience in the field of cinema.
The festival’s international section, which has been separated from the national section, will be held independently at a later date agreed upon with the International Federation of Film Producers Associations. This move is expected to boost Iran’s cultural diplomacy and promote the country’s film industry abroad.
Shahsavari has a proven track record in the film industry, having produced several notable films and held various executive roles, including vice president of Iran’s House of Cinema, board member of the Film Producers and Distributors Guild, and chairman of the Screening Guild Council.
The separation of the national and international sections of the festival has been a topic of discussion since 2021. The weak performance of the international section in recent years has been met with criticism, especially compared to previous years when the festival was held independently.
Faridzadeh has also thanked Mohammad Khazaei for his efforts in preparing for the 43rd edition of the festival.