TEHRAN – A lineup of Iranian films will go on screen in the various sections of the 9th Sofia MENAR Film Festival, which will open in the Bulgarian capital today.

“A Long Day” by Babak Bahrambeigi, “Breath” by Narges Abyar, “Crazy Castle” by Abolhassan Davudi and “Lanturi” by Reza Dormishian have been selected for the official competition of the festival, which will run until Jan. 29.

“Apricot Groves”, an Iranian-Armenian film production by Iranian director Purya Heidari-Ureh, “Mina’s Option” by Kamal Tabrizi and “Stolen” by Bijan Mirbaqeri will also go on screen in the section.

“Track” by Reza Golchin and “Angels Are Dead” by Sahar Khoshcheshman will compete in the short film section of the festival.

The festival also plans to pay tribute to world-renowned Iranian director Abbas Kiarostami in a section titled “In Memoriam: Abbas Kiarostami”.

“76 Minutes and 15 Seconds with Abbas Kiarostami”, a montage film made by Kiarostami’s close friend Seifollah Samadian, will be screened in this section.

Some of Kiarostami’s films, including “Take Me Home”, “Taste of Cherry”, “The Wind Will Carry Us” and “Through the Olive Trees” will also be shown in this section.

MENAR stands for the Middle East and North Africa Region, and the festival spotlights top cinema productions from these areas.

ABU/YAW