TEHRAN -- Iran is currently holding a film festival in Hanoi marking the 35th anniversary of the establishment of Iran-Vietnam diplomatic ties.

Iranian Ambassador Javad Qavvam-Shahidi, Vietnam Film Institute Director Hoang Nhu Yen, Iranian actor Mohammadreza Forutan, and a number of other Iranian and Vietnamese cultural and academic figures attended the opening ceremony on Sunday.
Forutan made a short speech about the history and development of Iranian cinema, which he said has brought the art and cultural values of Iran to the world’s attention.
The VFI director praised the Iranian film industry, saying that Iranian cinema’s depiction of social issues is considered world-class and it has been able to attract large audiences every year.
Despite the international sanctions, Iranian cinema has been able to raise its status to a high level in the international scene, she added.
A selection of award-winning Iranian movies, including Majid Majidi’s “The Color of Paradise”, “The Children of Heaven”, and “The Father” and Bahman Farmanara’s “Smell of Camphor, Fragrance of Jasmine”, are being screened during the ten-day event.