According to the information center of the 30th International Film Festival for Children and Young adults, the festival’s director Alireza Rezadad said, “last July, a 5-year agreement was signed between the cinema organization, the city hall of Isfahan, and Farabi cinema foundation on holding the children and young adults film festival, which has been put into effect since the last October. In this year’s edition we have a new change which is the separation of children’s category from young adults’. Therefore, movies in each category are going to be judged and awarded independently.”
He went on to add, “another considerable difference is a special attention to animated features. Since there is a rising interest in making animation in the country, we have separated categories for animated shorts and features this year in the festival.”
Talking about the theatres which get prepared for the festival, Rezadad said, “It’s been a month since the four cinema complexes in Chahr-Bagh Boulvard were renovated, in which three movie theaters are exclusive for the festival. Felestin cinema along with a new one in Isfahan’s city center is also among the cinemas in which festivals’ films will be shown. Construction of two other theatres will be completed before the festival kicks off.”
“It is the first time that the festival is going to be held in summer. Our main focus is to encourage children and their parents to attend. To fulfill this goal, we established a club for audience so as to get them informed about the details of the event. Twelve thousands Isfahani citizens have so far registered in the club. We predict an increase to fifteen thousand by the start of the festival.”
Considering the last edition’s filmmaking lab for young adults, Rezadad said, “Although we want to spot and develop young talents who are interested in filmmaking, a film festival is aimed at showing professional productions. Last edition in Hamedan was a success since there was no independent category for young adults’ movies. But this year we decided to focus only on the festival.”
“Farabi cinema foundation knows how important a festival is to improve the conditions of children’s cinema. Therefore, children’s movies need to get more support. Our main responsibility as the festival organizers is to introduce quality materials to the audience,” he added.
To answer the question of which city is going to be the host of festival in next years, he says, “Based on that 5-year agreement, the festival is going to be held in Isfahan for the next four years. If everything goes well, as it’s been so far, chances are the next editions will also be held in this city.”
Rezadad concluded, “The final selected films and the screening program of all sections will be announced by June 5. We will definitely pay a special tribute to Donya Fanizadeh (an Iranian puppeteer who passed away last year due to hand cancer).”
The 30th international film festival for children and young adults will be held from June 30 to July 6 in Isfahan.
MS/PR
Your Comment