TEHRAN- A team of Russian film experts will visit Iran to choose Iranian movies for possible screening in Russia, following a request made by Russia during the second online specialized meeting of Iranian and Russian cinema organizations on Wednesday. 

The Russian experts will work with both governmental and private sectors to facilitate screening Iranian films in Russia for the upcoming year, ISNA reported on Friday. 

The meeting reviewed the process of implementing the clauses of the recent film agreement between both countries. 

Mohammad Khazaei, the Director of the Cinema Organization of Iran, highlighted the need for expediting the implementation process, particularly for cinema and platform screenings in Russia. 

He affirmed Iran's readiness to show Iranian films in Russia, following the provisions of the agreement, and added that a team of Russian experts would visit Iran to select films.

"Given the circumstances of the collaboration and pursuant to the request of the Russian side, a team of experts from Russia is set to travel to Iran in order to select films. They will collaborate with both the governmental and private sectors in order to facilitate the possibility of presenting Iranian films in Russia for the next year.”

Iran and Russia have signed a crucial film cooperation agreement that encompasses the enhancement of joint film production platforms, augmenting exchange, sales, and promotion of cinematic works, exchanging experts and human resources from both nations for cinema-related events and projects, facilitating the participation of both countries' cinema-related organizations and institutions in international film festivals, weeks, and cinema-related events, exchanging knowledge, and experience in filmmaking.

Further to this, both countries will produce joint works, educate cinema specialists, and propel the audio and visual content in foreign markets. 

The meeting showcased Russia’s desire to progress the agreement and, with the cooperation of the Russian embassy in Iran, they will follow up on subjects and programs. The Russian representative noted that global sanction implications underline the importance and strategic value of collaboration in this area. With Iranian cinema holding a formidable status in the world and Russian cinema also advancing rapidly despite the sanctions, both countries will benefit from the agreement, particularly in the region.

"There is no doubt that given the global sanctions, this collaboration is very important and strategic, and we believe that Iranian cinema has a very good position in the world, and at the same time, Russian cinema is rapidly progressing despite the sanctions, and the implementation of the agreements between the two countries is beneficial for both in the region." 

The Cinema Organization of Iran is an affiliate of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance.

Iran and Russia have established close relations on cultural issues. 

In 2021, in a letter sent to Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Mohammad-Mehdi Esmaeili, Russian Culture Minster Olga Lyubimova congratulated him on his appointment as Iran’s new culture minister and invited him to attend the 9th St. Petersburg International Cultural Forum, which was organized in the Russian city from November 11 to 13.
 
Former Iranian culture minister Abbas Salehi also attended the 7th St. Petersburg International Cultural Forum.

He also met his then-Russian counterpart Vladimir Medinsky on the sidelines of his visit to St. Petersburg.

In addition, the Iranian cities of Tehran and Qazvin played host to the Russian Cultural Days during November 2019.

Russia’s Ministry of Culture organized the cultural days in collaboration with Iran’s Islamic Culture and Relations Organization.

Groups of Russian cultural figures and officials carried out various programs during the six-day cultural festival, which was organized at Tehran’s Niavaran Cultural Historical Complex and Qazvin’s cultural centers.

An exhibition of Russian traditional artworks was also held at the Niavaran complex.

SAB/