Rouhollah Hosseini, Director of the 43rd Fajr International Film Festival, appeared on a live program on Fars Provincial TV to share insights about this year’s event.
Hosseini outlined the core objectives shaping the festival’s current edition. He explained that the team set out with two or three major goals, particularly in the international arena, aiming to create a space where Iranian cinema can deepen its dialogue with world cinema. Throughout the festival, filmmakers from other countries are visiting Iran and experiencing its cinema, art, culture, and the city of Shiraz firsthand.
Why Shiraz? A City Aligned with the Festival’s Spirit
Hosseini emphasized that Shiraz possesses all the qualities expected of a major international festival host. With a long and illustrious history stretching from pre-Islamic eras and the Achaemenid Empire to modern times, Shiraz offers a rich cultural backdrop. In literature and the arts, especially poetry, the city is renowned across the world.
Growing International Presence
By the end of the festival’s second day, 100 international guests from 34 countries had already arrived in Shiraz, with more expected to join in the coming days.
A Festival Built Around Poetic Cinema
For the first time in the festival’s history, a new overarching theme — Poetic Cinema — has been introduced. Hosseini noted that this concept, deeply connected to the artistic atmosphere of Shiraz, influenced both the film selection and the choice of jury members. He cited composer Christophe Rezai as an example, chosen because the films he scores inhabit distinctly poetic worlds.
According to Hosseini, all jury members, each in their own way, align with this thematic approach. He added that spirituality and poetic sensibility are closely intertwined, and that speaking about poetry is essentially speaking about meaning and depth. He also highlighted the significance of the Broken Olive section, dedicated to films addressing resistance, perseverance, and the honoring of peace, noting that two of the festival’s strongest films—both their countries’ Oscar submissions—are featured in this category.
Selection Process and Challenges
Hosseini explained that the festival was organized under considerable time pressure. Only a little over a month had passed since the twelve-day war, and discussions of renewed sanctions were underway. Despite these challenges, nearly 900 films were submitted to the festival’s online platform. After thorough review by the programming team and consultants, the final selection was narrowed down to around 50 titles.
