TEHRAN -- The 7th edition of Tehran International Animation Festival opened in Tehran on Sunday concurrent with several provinces of Hamedan, Mazandaran and Alborz.

A selection of 135 international productions coming from 66 countries along with 75 Iranian animations will be competing in this year’s festival running from March 6 to 10, the Public Relations Office of the Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults (IIDCYA) reported on Sunday.
“The Heart of Simorgh”, the long animation by Vahid Nasirian, which was an entry to this year’s Fajr filmfest, was screened on the first day of the festival.
“Arjun & the Adventures of the Ice Lotus” by Md. Faud Zain, a joint production from Hong Kong and Malaysian was also among the first animations that went on screen on the first day.
Also included in the first day programs, was the session in which expert Amir-Mohammad Dehestani reviewed the aesthetics in 3D animations. The session was held at the Saba Art and Cultural Institute.
The organizers are also planning to pay tribute to the Iranian master of animations Abolfazl Razani during a special screening section.
“20 Years” by Barbaro Ortiz from Cuba, “A Gum Boy” by Masaki Okuda from Japan, “A New Life!” by Fred Joyeux (France), “Aanaatt” by Max Hattler (UK/Germany/Japan) and “About One Bird” by Olga Kudryavtseva (Russia) are among the entries of the international competition section.
The national entries include “A Long Day” by Mohsen Shiri, “A Penguin Is Born” by Ali Derakhshi, “Above the Gray Clouds” by “Sareh Shafiepur, “Chance” by Saeid Hassani, “City Stories” by Yaser Mohaddesi, “Contrast” by Rasul Shiri, and “Democracy” by Hossein Bayat.