Tayebeh Falakian said that the 37th TISFF was held online due to the spread of the coronavirus, adding that the experience of the last year helped the festival’s organizers to have a better platform for online screening of the films.
Speaking about cultural development in the country as one of the most important goals of the Cinema Organization of Iran, she explained that with the provision of an online screening platform, the necessary ground has been provided for all interested people across the country to access the festival’s films.
Falakian added that in the 38th edition of the festival, the total number of works received by the festival’s secretariat is 1,775 short films, which is the highest number of works in the last four years.
Falakian added that 1,165 feature films, 257 documentaries, 228 experimental films and 125 animations were submitted to participate in the festival.
Since the festival was approved in July by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as a qualifying festival for the short film category at the Academy Awards, it is predicted that cinema lovers and prominent filmmakers will highly welcome the festival in the 39th edition, she said.
The festival will be held every year in October, and this year the event will be held from October 19 to 24, under the supervision of Sadeq Mousavi who is also the CEO of the Iranian Youth Cinema Society.
The short film festival is one of the oldest short film festivals, not only in Iran but in the region. The festival has been host to internationally well-known festival directors and cineastes from all over the world.
Source: Iran Daily