cinema trust Tina Jalali wrote in Etamad newspaper:
one One of the most important damages that the Fajr Film Festival has seen in the last two or three years is the personal taste of some directors of this event. In fact, the directors of the Fajr Film Festival tried to apply what they like to the approaches of the festival, with their own closed and special government view. , he did not believe in aggregating different opinions and views, the result of such imposition of opinions caused severe division among managers and artists. Without compliments, we must say that in recent years, most of the people of the cinema were wary of the Fajr Film Festival and not only did they not sympathize with the festival organizers, but they were completely against the policies of this event, countless cinematographers did not attend this event at all, and finally what We saw that the Fajr Film Festival became more and more distant from the original and famous artists, and in recent years it remained a friendly place with limited attendance.
Now the question is whether this important movie event can be the gathering place of all thoughts and opinions this year?
Alireza Tabesh, a member of the Fajr Film Festival Policy Council, however, clearly says that whenever the festival is according to the taste of some government agents, a distance has been created between the artists and the rulers and it has lost its credibility, while the Fajr Festival is like a trust that must be given to its original owners, i.e. People will be returned.
However, Tabesh expresses hope that plans will be made this year to make the festival a symbol of national reconciliation and empathy between people and artists.
TheMr. Tabesh, Fajr Film Festival has been a place of controversy in all the years it has been held, and this issue has caused polarization among cinematographers, and there are many positive and negative opinions about this event. And the controversies lead to the withdrawal of filmmakers from this event, what is your analysis of this issue?
In my opinion, the positive and negative opinions show that Fajr Festival has an important place both from the perspective of the audience, from the perspective of cinematographers and the media, because Fajr Film Festival is one of the most important cultural events in the country, and perhaps it can be said that it is the closest event to the essence of cinema, the essence of cinema is The meaning of the films that have been made, the criticisms that are given to this event and the approach that the audience has to this event are important, so I have the positive and negative opinions to promote this important cinematic event in the country and the region. i know The important thing about the Fajr Film Festival is its impact. The Fajr Film Festival has always had domestic effects in terms of the growth of cinema productions and the change in the audience’s taste, and even the impact on the screenings and the decisions that filmmakers make about their works. Foreign marketers and directors of important film festivals used to come to Iran to see the works of Iranian cinema and its productions. These points show that the festival is still effective and can have more impact. Both in the internal environment of Iranian cinema and media and in the external environment and the region where we live and important world events.
TheYou have been closely involved with this event for years through the management of the Farabi Cinema Foundation, in a macro view, what do you think was the most important damage that the festival has suffered in the years of its holding?
Fajr Film Festival belongs to the big family of Iranian cinema, not a festival that belongs to the government. In some years, the directors of the festival, with a government perspective, tried to somehow apply their personal taste in the trends and approaches of the festival. In my opinion, this is one of the harms. It is possible and necessary to recognize this type of damage and avoid it.
Fajr Film Festival and other festivals, as well as the Tehran Book Fair, are among the popular rituals of our country, we do not forget that people used to stand in line for hours to watch movies or perform music and theater at Fajr festivals, and this event has always been important for critics, cinematographers and the media. In my opinion, whenever this festival has been according to the taste of the agents of some governments, a distance has been created between the artists and the rulers and it has lost its credibility, while the Fajr festival is like a trust that must be kept. Its main owners, the people, should be returned, I said anyway, this festival was once and still is the most important event in the region where we live and other regional festivals do not reach the level of this festival.
Of course, we know that for several years they have been making plans to advance, but I believe that our filmmaking process, the Fajr Film Festival and cinematic events and the impact of Iranian cinema really speak first in the region, but if this effort and excitement, effort, planning and intelligence in If cinema programming is not in the country’s affairs and governance, naturally, regional competitors will steal the lead, and this is a very important issue.
TheYou are a member of the Policy Council of the 43rd Fajr Film Festival, you have a difficult responsibility in this period, do you agree?
This year, whatever the plans are, I hope to make the festival a symbol of national harmony and empathy between people and artists. Yes, in one period it caused harshness and persecution to the artists, which upset them and pushed them away, so that a rift was created between the artists and the government, and these rifts must be repaired, and I know that the efforts of the festival secretary, policy council, and cinema directors in The path to repair these ruptures is to reach a point of greater empathy and solidarity.
TheIn order to be able to increase the inclusion of the festival and provide different opinions in this direction and be the result of all opinions and thoughts in the festival and cover all views, what are your plans?
I see the festival as a part of the Iranian cinema ecosystem, and in my opinion, the role and position of the government should be redefined in the ecosystem of film productions and the image and entertainment industry. Proposals were also made in the policy-making council in the first meeting of the council, which was decided in a discussion with experts and residents. Cinema, experts and cinema people themselves should discuss and investigate these issues in a working group. What can we do to make the audience feel better and have a better relationship with cinema. I have to mention here a few things that have affected the cinema, first is the occurrence of the digital revolution, which was recognized very late in our cultural governance, and it is interesting that they still resist this important issue, both in the classes And they don’t recognize the digital revolution in governance, which I think is very harmful and we need to revise the views in this field.
The second important event that we witnessed in the cinema was the discussion of the effect of Corona, which affected the audience, the productions and the festivals, and finally the policies that were implemented in the cinema in the last three years.
And we witnessed the strengthening of a single genre and not the variety of genres, that is, what you saw in the screening basket were mostly works of a certain single genre, which is a matter for reflection, I believe that the management of Iranian cinema and the management of film festivals and events need dialogue, discussion and investigation and They have a flexible and even self-correcting method to be updated and interactive and based on the realities of the image industry.
I hope that this year we will witness important steps regarding the development of this sector in the festival. I know and am aware that Mr. Shaheswari and his colleagues in the festival secretariat are making a lot of efforts to ensure that the festival provides different opinions in relation to the people and increasing the credibility and inclusion.
There are two points about the policy-making council. First, the presence of women is absent, and the other point is that there are no intelligent young cinematographers in this group, why?
The selection of the policy council was done by the head of the film organization, but I know that efforts were made to invite female filmmakers, but I don’t know the reason why there are no women in the council. There is a wide range of artists, both men and women, participating in it. Other parts of the festival, the selection and judging panel, and other parts have opportunities for women and young people to participate.
Regarding the presence of young filmmakers, it seems that they have films in the festival. Now we have to see how many young cinematographers are in the registered films, since your question is a result of the questions of public opinion, I must say that in my opinion, efforts have been made to attract the participation of women and young people in other sections and other pillars of the festival, and in the hope of God, witness Be with them.
TheYou managed the Farabi Cinema Foundation for many years and you are aware of the international situation of Iranian cinema. In your opinion, what should be done to make Iranian cinema more international?
One of the expectations from the head of the cinema organization is to try as much as possible to make Iranian cinema more international, considering Mr. Faridzadeh’s experience, knowledge and expertise in international cinema issues. are fully aware, we hope that in the dialogue between the cinema family, the cinema organization and other responsible institutions, the challenges facing the internationalization of Iranian cinema will be resolved to some extent and witness To be the proud presence of Iranian cinema in international events, festivals and markets.
It should be pointed out that after the Islamic revolution, in the period from the mid-sixties to the eighties and the nineties, Iranian cinema had a very good leap, of course we know that part of this leap happened suddenly and without planning, and I think that if proper planning If it does not happen in the current situation, the successes that our cinema has had in the world sectors will be lost or diminished.
Thewhat to do
In my opinion, it is a facilitation of the government and government institutions and the role of broadcasters and producers of cinematographic works that know the harms and weaknesses of Iranian cinema well.
It is not possible to blame all the expectations on the government or cultural governance, of course, cultural governance should facilitate and support the private sector, and the private sector should be able to keep itself up to date in the international arena and international marketing and global market. The use of new marketing methods, along with the presence in markets and international forums, should be a serious concern of the private sector in Iranian cinema and the serial production and animation industry of Iran.
In order to eliminate these weaknesses and strengthen the international sector of Iranian cinema, it is necessary to make important decisions in the cinema family.
TheOne of the important points about the international presence of Iranian cinema is to know the strengths and weaknesses of Iranian cinema. In your opinion, what are the weaknesses and obstacles in this path and what should be done to create opportunities?
I believe that we still do not have a guild for international distributors of cinematographic works, and this is an important weakness in the art and industry of cinema, and I have said it several times before, unfortunately, the number of international distributors of Iranian cinema – if they are one guild and there is unity between them – does not reach the number of fingers on two hands. Of course, I mean the number of professional broadcasters. to be known internationally and to be the official distributor of the film and to be recognized in international forums.
In my opinion, on the one hand, we see government and sovereign broadcasters who have their own limitations, and on the other hand, we have private broadcasters whose continued presence requires training, promotion, knowledge and sufficient capital injection in companies to overcome these obstacles to some extent. Another point is that, unfortunately, the works of Our movie “without segmentation” will be sent to the international market. Of course, if they want it in the world market, because the desire to buy and display Iranian works has had ups and downs.
TheIn your opinion, what are the basic needs of the internationalization of Iranian cinema, and what are the opportunities for Iranian cinema in addition to the weaknesses?
Except for the cinematographic works that we see partly due to the traditional broadcasting method, unfortunately, we did not have some unprofessional methods or rather we did not have a coherent international broadcasting system, this is also about Iranian films and series that are suitable for marketing in the world, especially with the growth of platforms, especially animation. Whether good animations are made in Iranian cinema or short and documentary films, with this variety of products, Iranian cinema can gain a better position in world festivals and the international market. But some of these opportunities have been ignored by the people of cinema themselves, or they only introduce films at the international level that are fictional cinema or Asian countries, which apparently are not given much attention in the marketing list of Iranian cinema. On the other hand The laws of the market economy are discussed in the international discussion of Iranian cinema, and somehow the logic of the market has been ignored, and the analysis of the market and the taste of the global audience by Iranian broadcasters has perhaps been given less attention. The internationalization of Iranian cinema should be taken seriously by the private sector.
The cinema organization in the 14th government is facing challenges in the international field, which is expected to be a solution for these issues, what is your opinion?
In any case, Iranian cinema has suffered serious damage in the international sector, in the last three years, international broadcasters and international festivals have made tough decisions about Iranian films. We should not forget that the political approaches of some international festivals are a fact that has existed and unfortunately has caused limitations and damage. In my opinion, these challenges should be identified correctly, and in the next step, with the interaction and communication that the Fajr International Festival, Farabi, the film organization and private sector activists can re-establish with international broadcasters, festivals and global events, it is hoped that the Ministry of Guidance’s film organization will be able to re-establish its work. In this field, it should be focused and compensated. With Dr. Raed Faridzadeh’s knowledge of the international conditions of cinema, it seems that we can hope that he will witness the opening and To be innovative in the field of international cinema.