A total of 50 countries have applied for the ‘Darolfonoon’ section of the 36th Fajr International Film Festival slated for April 19-27 in Tehran
Darolfonoon, a section added to FIFF in 2016, is a talent campus that targets young filmmakers and cinema enthusiasts. Young talents from Iranian cities as well as other nations will be encouraged to take part in expert sessions.
The title of the section refers to the first modern institution of higher learning in Iran, established in 1851, Mehr News Agency reported.
Filmmaker and screenwriter Maziar Miri, 44, will preside over the section.
“Our scientific board will identify cinema students and new professional cineastes from Iran and across the world to bring them together at Darolfonoon sessions and classes,” he said.
“Selected participants will take part in a seven-day course to be conducted by cinema masters. Top filmmakers, movie experts and scholars from across the globe have been invited to teach at the workshops. At the end of the course, the participants will each be given an assignment by the masters. The one who delivers the best assignment, will receive a budget for his/her next short film.”
Miri noted that Darolfonoon participants should be under 27, able to speak English and have one short film in their resumes.
“Some 110 people will be selected for the classes, with half of them from Iran and the rest from other countries,” he said.
Considerable Growth
The number of applications this year has increased considerably compared to previous editions.
“In the first edition, students from 14 countries participated in Darolfonoon. In 2017, they came from 30 countries and now 50 nations are being evaluated for the section,” Miri said.
Students and young filmmakers have applied for the Darolfonoon section from Mexico, Germany, France, Spain, China, Japan, Netherlands, South Korea, Russia, Turkey, Tunisia and Algeria, among others.
“The Darolfonoon section will commence on April 17, two days ahead of the 36th FIFF. Participants will attend two or three classes per day. They will take part in practical workshops, Tehran tours, screening events and meetings with cineastes,” he said.
They will be lodged for a week at one of the hotels in Tehran.
FIFF shows some of the best films made in and outside Iran in its various sections.
For the upcoming edition, celebrated filmmaker Reza Mirkarimi will serve as secretary of the festival for the third consecutive year. The event has been held independently from the national Fajr Film Festival for the past four years.
