Mirkarimi made the statement on his visit to the Charsou Cineplex and FIff’s poster exhibition on May 27.
He added that cultural festivals are bridges for international relations.
“I am really proud of this festival because when a cultural event is held for more than 30 years, it becomes a cultural heritage, and it must be protected because it no longer belongs to one generation.”
The point that FIff is among the top 16 festivals in the world indicates that Iranian cineastes must have a serious word to say, he added.
“Although Iran is highly rich in cultural and civilizational aspects, its international communications are not sufficient to exchange cultural products,” he said, adding that in the international arena, especially for feature films, FIff is Iran’s only bridge to maintain international ties.
He appreciated the efforts of the festival’s director to hold the festival in the pandemic-stricken days.
During the tour of the main venues of Fajr, Mirkarimi also exchanged views with the organizers on the importance of holding the annual cinematic event.
During the visit, he was accompanied by the festival’s Director Mohammad-Mehdi Asgarpour, Deputy Director Amir Asgarpour, International Relations Manager Kamiar Mohsenin, Fan Club, and Workshop Manager Shadmehr Rastin, and Special Events Manager Meysam Mazlaqani.
The 2021 FIff is scheduled for May 26 to June 2 in Tehran. The festival is widely considered one of the most prestigious and influential in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
The annual film festival was scheduled to be held in April 2020; however, amid growing concerns over the coronavirus, during March 2020, the organizers postponed it to a later time in June, which was also canceled.
The 39th edition of the national version of the festival was held from January 31 to February 10.
Source: Iran Daily