TEHRAN-The 1st National Iranian Ethnic Film Festival was launched at the Iranology Foundation in Tehran on May 14, named Ferdowsi Day in Iran, commemorating Persian language and literature.

Organized by the Iranology Foundation and Fasl-e Honar (Art Season) Cultural and Artistic Institute, the festival is held from May 15 to 19 at Tehran’s Book Garden Cineplex under the slogan “Ethnic Groups, Roots of Iran,” Mehr reported on Wednesday.

Mohammad Hossein Rajabi Davani, the head of the Iranology Foundation and the head of the festival's policymaking council said: “The Iranology Foundation, as a center for better introducing the honors, greatness, and beauty of Iran, has established this festival in line with national unity and cohesion. We hope that the festival will be the first step to introduce the great role of the Iranian ethnic groups”.

“Iran proudly has the oldest and greatest history, with its civilizational geography reaching from the east to China and from the west to the Mediterranean; it also stretches from the north to the Caucasus and from the south to India and Yemen. Therefore, we strive to hold the festival internationally and for all cultures related to Iran next year,” he added.

A part of the opening ceremony was dedicated to honoring the late filmmaker Khosrow Sinai (1941-2022). He was a director and writer, known for “Bride of Fire” (2000), “The Inner Beast” (1983), and “Long Live...!” (1980).

During his professional career, Sinai produced nearly 30 documentaries, nine feature films, eight short films, and four animations.

He was also the director of the documentary “Talking with a Shadow” about Iran’s foremost short story writer Sadeq Hedayat, who was influenced by world literature, especially European literature, and had read the works of Kafka, Poe, and Dostoyevsky.

In 2008, Poland decorated Sinai with the Knight’s Cross of the Order of Merit for his documentary “The Lost Requiem” (1970-1983) about the story of the wartime exodus to Iran of thousands of Polish citizens after being released from the Soviet labor camps of Siberia during World War II.

“Bride of Fire”, his feature drama, won the Crystal Simorgh for best screenplay at the 18th Fajr International Film Festival in Tehran.

The National Iranian Ethnic Film Festival is held in competitive sections including feature films, short fiction films, animated films, documentaries, music videos, and screenplays in accordance with the theme of the festival, which comprises cultural and religious rituals, lifestyles, customs, traditions, and history of Iranian ethnic groups as well as tangible and intangible cultural heritage and tourism capacities.

The festival will conclude on May 19, named Iranology Day in the Persian calendar.

SS/SAB