On the third day of the 43rd Fajr International Film Festival, Hossein Ali Amiri, Governor of Fars Province, visited the festival venue at Honar Shahr Aftab Cineplex in Shiraz.
During his visit, Amiri toured the festival house, engaged with filmmakers and international guests in the open-air festival space, and sought their opinions about the event. He later spoke with journalists present at the venue.
The governor said, “I have been following the festival’s news and events through social media and various media outlets. What has been reported shows that the festival has been highly successful so far, receiving national and international attention. The participation of cultural and artistic figures from around the world, as well as prominent personalities, has greatly enriched the festival.”
Regarding the establishment of a permanent secretariat for the Fajr International Film Festival in Shiraz, Amiri stated, “We have requested this from Dr. Salehi, the Minister of Culture. This initiative requires infrastructure, tools, and facilities, which our colleagues in the province are working to provide. Fortunately, the Plan and Budget Organization has allocated the necessary funds, and other relevant cultural offices, including the Department of Culture and Islamic Guidance, the Shiraz Municipality, and other sectors, have all contributed to ensuring the required facilities and infrastructure are in place.”
Amiri emphasized, “Naturally, this is our first experience hosting such a festival in one of the provinces of Iran. Therefore, I believe that next year, using the experience gained from this edition, the festival will certainly be held on a larger and even more successful scale.”
He added, “Fars Province and the city of Shiraz have deep cultural roots, and cinema is considered one of the most prestigious forms of media. Historically, Iran has been known worldwide for its poetry, and in contemporary times, the quality of Iranian cinema is recognized globally. Our responsibility today is to utilize this opportunity and capacity on an international level. All our efforts are focused on this goal.”
