TEHRAN-The 20th edition of the Tehran-Mobarak International Puppet Festival is scheduled to take place in the Iranian capital from December 16 to 23, the organizers have announced.

The festival has issued a call for submissions for its upcoming edition, unveiling new sections and a competitive format, ISNA reported on Monday.

The festival will be organized in collaboration with the Performing Arts Department of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance and the Iranian Association of Performing Arts.

The event will feature a variety of sections, including stage performances, outdoor shows, international theater, inclusive performances, playwriting, a 100-second (virtual space) segment, along with inventions and technical achievements.

In addition, specialized seminars, educational workshops, experience sharing, and discussion sessions focusing on critique and analysis will be among the festival's offerings.

For the first time, new sections such as the 100-second category dedicated to virtual platforms and the inventions and technical achievements category have been introduced in this edition.

While previous editions of the festival have generally followed a non-competitive format, the 20th edition will include competitive categories for stage performances and outdoor shows, reflecting the format used in the 19th edition.

SAB/