TEHRAN-The organizers of the 42nd Fajr International Film Festival will honor four Iranian cineastes with lifetime achievement awards during the opening ceremony of the event on Thursday. 

The honorees include Mohammadreza Aliqoli for his contribution to music, Parviz Sheikhtadi for his directing skills, and Fariba Kosari and Abolfazl Pourarab for their outstanding performances in acting.

A selection of the festival’s awards will also be unveiled and presented during at the opening ceremony. 

Earlier this week, the festival’s organizers announced that the international section of the event will start on February 6 in Tehran.

According to the public relations of the festival, the international section of the 42nd Fajr International Film Festival will include the International Competition (Cinema Salvation), Eastern Vista (Films from Asian-Islamic Countries), and Festival of Festivals.

This edition of the festival has received a total of 621 submissions from 87 countries. The final line-up for the international section has not yet been announced.

In addition to Iran, countries such as the U.S., France, India, Turkey, Italy, Yemen, Brazil, Russia, Argentina, Spain, Germany, Mexico, China, Britain, Ireland, Iraq, South Korea, Bulgaria, Romania, Sweden, Greece, Australia, Poland, Lebanon, Japan, Hong Kong, and Syria have registered their works for participation in the international section of this edition.

The international section aims to identify quality international and national films and to strengthen and encourage the production of works aligned with Iranian cinema. In this section, priority is given to films dealing with topics seeking justice, discouraging oppression, arrogance, global terrorism, violence and extremism, encouraging Islamic awakening, transcendent lifestyle, family orientation, human rights, highlighting moral, spiritual and religious teachings, fighting against discrimination, highlighting culture and civilization through artistic expression, and thus striving to guide contemporary man towards happiness.

The national section of the 42nd Fajr International Film Festival will kick off earlier than its international section on February 1. A total of 37 movies are to compete in three sections, Sodaye-Simorgh (the festival’s main competition section), New Perspective (first-time filmmakers), and Animations.

The line-up comprises 22 Iranian feature films in the main competition section, 11 films in the New Perspective section, and 4 animated films in their own specified section.

Hozeh Honari (Art Bureau) has a strong presence at this year’s edition with six films, promising a cinematic journey through varied genres, showcasing the depth and diversity of the Iranian film industry.

Winners of various categories in both national and international sections will be announced on the last day of the festival on February 11.

SAB/