TEHRAN-The International Section of the 42nd Fajr International Film Festival (FIFF), Iran’s most important film event, will start on February 6 in Tehran.

According to the public relations of the festival, the international section of the FIFF 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.

Amir Abbas Rabiei's “Ahmad,” recounts the untold story of the first 18 hours of the Bam earthquake, coinciding with its 20th anniversary.

The war film “Western Sky,” directed by Mohammad Asgari, portrays the bravery of martyred pilot Ali Akbar Shiroudi. Filmed in Kermanshah Province, the movie stars Milad Keimaram as Martyr Shiroudi.

Behrouz Afkhami's “Execution Morning,” delves into the final moments of Tayyab Haj Rezaei and Ismail Rezaei, sentenced to death after the June 15, 1963 uprising.

Reza Keshavarz Haddad's “Kianoush Garden,” adapted from a book of the same name, explores teenage adventures in the 1980-1990 era

Another book adaptation, Qurban Ali Taherfar's “Projectionist,” narrates the story of a building painter passionate about cinema.

An animation focusing on the future, “Dream City,” directed by Mohsen Enayati, features the adventure of a boy named Arat.

Some notable competitors in the main competition section of this year’s festival include Ali Saqafi’s “Parviz Khan” with Notable actors such as Saeed Poursamimi, Maryam Sa’adat, Hamidreza Pegah, and Behnam Tashakkor in the cast; “Paradise of Criminals” by Masoud Jafari-Jozani's starring Amir-Hossein Arman, Reza Yazdani, Ladan Mostofi, and Sahar Jafari-Jozani; and Mahmoud Kalari’s “Summer of the Same Year” featuring Mehran Modiri, Ali Shademan, Fariba Naderi, Roya Javidnia, Saber Abar and Pejman Bazeghi.

Other much-anticipated contenders include Soheil Movaffaq's “Nowruz,” featuring Ali Nasirian, Mehdi Hashemi, Shabnam Moqaddami, Afshin Hashemi, and Mahtab Servati; Javad Ezzati’s “Bloody Crocodile” featuring Abbas Jamshidifar, Saeed Aqakhani, Elnaz Habibi, Behzad Khalaj, and Shabnam Qorbani; and Babak Khajepasha's “Light Blue” featuring Mehran Ahmadi, Mehran Ghafourian, Rouhollah Zamani, Ali-Akbar Asanlou, and Kazem Hazhir-Azad.

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

SS/SAB