TEHRAN – The National Iranian Ethnic Film Festival, in its first edition, will host specialized workshops with the presence of distinguished filmmakers. 

The festival, which will be held in Tabriz from October 31 to November 5, will organize several workshops featuring cinema figures, Mehr reported on Wednesday. 

The workshops will cover a broad range of topics, including cinematography, ethnic music and cultures, the economics of cinema, attention to local and native film-making features, indigenous cinema and filmmakers, and reflecting national customs and traditions in cinema, among others, the report added. 

Further details on the workshop participation procedure and the instructors leading them will be announced on the festival's official website.

The primary objective of the National Ethnic Film Festival is to underscore the shared cultural, religious, and customary bonds between the various Iranian ethnic communities while showcasing their unparalleled diversity in terms of lifestyle, customs, and traditions.

Moreover, the festival seeks to offer an appropriate platform for indigenous artists and filmmakers to display the socio-cultural and touristic opportunities accessible on the geographical frontiers of every Iranian ethnic group. Additionally, it aims to introduce the historical, cultural, and artistic attractions and handicraft industries uniquely embedded within each ethnic group's geographic range.

Furthermore, the festival's objectives also encompass identifying and presenting the tourism sector's potential and perceived opportunities within the ethnic groups to attract investments.

The festival is structured into three distinct sections; the main section featuring a wide range of films, including feature, documentary, animation, and music videos. Additionally, the experimental section will showcase works relating to the festival's core themes and goals which push beyond traditional cinematic rules and norms. Finally, the side section will present films that did not meet the criteria for competition in the festival's main sections.

SAB/