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TEHRAN-The 43rd Fajr Film Festival commenced on Thursday, with an opening ceremony at Tehran’s Vahdat Hall. The event was attended by the Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, Seyyed Abbas Salehi, along with numerous artists and cultural figures.<\/p>\n
At the ceremony, the festival paid tribute to three veteran figures in Iranian cinema including filmmaker Sirus Alvand, actor Reza Babak, and voice actor Manoochehr Valizadeh, IRNA reported.<\/p>\n
The first tribute was dedicated to honoring Sirus Alvand, which coincided with his 74th birthday. After a video clip showing his work as a screenwriter and director was played, he was honored on stage with the presence of filmmaker Fereydoun Jeyrani, movie critic Javad Tusi, the festival secretary Manouchehr Shahsavari, and the honoree\u2019s daughter Mahoor Alvand.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen Sirus Alvand entered the professional cinema industry, he paid attention to the concept of family and portrayed it as a safe haven. He has never had a pessimistic or negative outlook in his films,\u201d Tusi said.<\/p>\n
Then, amid the applause of the audience, Sirus Alvand appeared on stage. Expressing his gratitude, he stated: \u201cI am glad that this tribute is happening while I am still alive\u201d.<\/p>\n
Alvand began his career as a film critic and screenwriter and directed his debut film \u201cSanjar\u201d in 1971. He is among the filmmakers of the pre-Revolution era who are still working. Some of his films were among box-office hits. In 1992, he won a Crystal Simorgh for best director for \u201cOnce and for All\u201d at the 11th Fajr Film Festival.<\/p>\n
\u201cCargo\u201d (1987), \u201cThe Face\u201d (1995), \u201cThe Corrupted Hands\u201d (1999), \u201cThe Intruder\u201d (2001), and \u201cBlood Orange\u201d (2010) are among his other notable films.<\/p>\n
In 2019, a ceremonial event in his honor was held at Iran\u2019s House of Cinema to recognize his significant contributions to the Iranian movie industry.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The second tribute was dedicated to Reza Babak, with director Marzieh Boroumand and actor Mohammad-Reza Sharifinia in attendance. A video clip was first played including an interview with Babak.<\/p>\n
Speaking about him on stage, Boroumand said: \u201cReza Babak has played a fundamental role in all children’s works in theater, TV, and cinema. If it weren\u2019t for him, we wouldn\u2019t have had so many children’s works\u201d.
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Babak then stated: \u201cI already said everything in the video clip that was shown, but here, I just want to remember my father, my mother, and my wife, who was one of a kind\u201d.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He recited a poem for his late wife and added: \u201cTonight, I saw joy and exuberance in my friends and fellow artists, and I hope you always remain joyful\u201d.<\/p>\n
Reza Babak, 79, has played in over 60 movies and TV series. Some of his movies include \u201cBallad of Tara\u201d (1979) by Bahram Beyzai, \u201cHeritage\u201d (1988) by Kazem Balouchi, \u201cA Singing Cat\u201d (1990) by Kambuzia Partovi, and \u201cIn the Color of Purple\u201d (2004) and \u201cInvitation\u201d (2008) both by Ebrahim Hatamikia. \u201cZiba Barbershop\u201d (1990-1991) by Marzieh Boroumand and \u201cThe Safe\u201d (2009) by Maziar Miri are among his well-known series.<\/p>\n
The next tribute was dedicated to Manouchehr Valizadeh, the renowned dubbing artist, who could not attend the ceremony due to health conditions. However, a recorded interview with him was played, which was followed by the audiences\u2019 applause. \u00a0<\/p>\n
In the interview conducted by the festival committee, Valizadeh reflected on his career and concluded his words with the phrase: \u201cGreetings to cinema\u201d.<\/p>\n
Valizadeh, 84, is a dubbing manager, voice actor, voice-over artist, and actor. He has lent his voice to hundreds of films.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Iranian people know him well for dubbing famous actors such as Robert DeNiro in \u201cGodfather 2\u201d and \u201cTaxi Driver,\u201d Keanu Reaves in \u201cMatrix\u201d trilogy, Tom Hanks in \u201cForrest Gump,\u201d \u201cGreen Mile,\u201d \u201cSaving Private Ryan,\u201d \u201cSally,\u201d and \u201cCaptain Phillips,\u201d Adam Sandler in \u201c50 First Dates\u201d and \u201cClick,\u201d Toshiro Mifune in \u201cSeven Samurai,\u201d Nicholas Cage in \u201cThe Rock,\u201d John Travolta in \u201cPulp Fiction\u201d and \u201cKilling Season,\u201d Jim Carrey in \u201cDumb and Dumber,\u201d \u201cFun with Dick and Jane,\u201d and \u201cSonic the Hedgehog,\u201d Will Smith in \u201cEnemy of the State,\u201d \u201cPursuit of Happyness,\u201d \u201cI Am Legend,\u201d and \u201cI, Robot,\u201d and Tom Cruise in \u201cMagnolia,\u201d \u201cCollateral,\u201d \u201cEdge of Tomorrow,\u201d and \u2026 as well as famous characters in children\u2019s animations and series including Lucky Luke, Woody, Puss in Boots, and Garfield\u00a0<\/p>\n
Also at the ceremony, the winners of the best teaser, poster, and photo categories received their awards.<\/p>\n
The 43rd Fajr Film Festival is running from January 31 to February 10 in Tehran. The lineup of films in the Iranian Cinema Competition section includes 33 films, with 13 being directorial debuts. Additionally, four animated films have been chosen for a special competition category.<\/p>\n
Some notable entries include \u201cTears of the Lagoon\u201d by Mehdi Jafari, \u201cJustice\u201d by Abolfazl Jalili, \u201cAll Alone\u201d by Amir-Hossein Saqafi, \u201cCall Me Ziba\u201d by Rasoul Sadr-Ameli, \u201cKing of Roles\u201d by Shahed Ahmadlou, \u201cSetareh\u2019s Husband\u201d by Ebrahim Irajzad, \u201cThe Hunter\u201d by Javad Afshar, \u201cClosure\u201d by Soheil Movaffaq, and \u201cProphet Moses\u201d by Ebrahim Hatamikia.<\/p>\n
In the animated film category \u201cLegend of Sepehr\u201d directed by Emad Rahmani and Mehrdad Mehrabi, \u201cDolphin Boy 2\u201d by Mohammad Kheirandish, \u201cZal and Roudabeh\u201d by Mohammad-Ali Sajjadi, and \u201cJuliet and the King\u201d by Ashkan Rahgozar will compete for the top award.<\/p>\n
Jury members, featuring prominent figures such as filmmaker Kamal Tabrizi, actor and producer Bahram Radan, veteran critic Reza Dorostkar, director Alireza Raeesian, and filmmaker Narges Abyar will evaluate the films in the competition. The winners of the Golden and Crystal Simorgh awards will be announced at the closing ceremony of the festival on its last day.<\/p>\n
Iran’s annual Fajr Film Festival has been held every February in Tehran since 1983. The festival is supervised by the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance. It takes place on the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.<\/p>\n
From 2015 to 2022, the festival was bifurcated into two festivals, the national section in February and an international one held in April.<\/p>\n
In the past three years, the national and international segments were merged again, with the combined festival taking place in February.<\/p>\n
However, according to an announcement by the festival in December, the national and international sections of this edition of the Fajr Film Festival are separated again and the exact date of the international section will be announced in the near future.<\/p>\n
Photo: Marzieh Boroumand (L) and Mohammad-Reza Sharifinia (R) attend the honoring ceremony of Reza Babak (C) at the opening of the 43rd Fajr Film Festival, Thursday, January 31, 2025.<\/p>\n
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