TEHRAN- The 44th edition of the Fajr National Film Festival officially opened on Saturday in Tehran, with the screening of the animated film “Guardians of the Sun.”

Co-directed by Emad Rahmani and Mehrdad Mehrabi, the film is the only animated work participating in the festival’s out-of-competition section.

Prior to the screening, Manouchehr Shahsavari, the festival’s secretary, addressed the audience to extend his respect and courtesy on the opening of the 44th Fajr Film Festival.

He noted that he has always believed the Fajr Film Festival to be a national event, adding: “I hope that all of us this year will play a role in shaping a national event that belongs to the people of Iran and, in our own way, help bring calm to the troubled hearts of the people.”

Referring to the importance of cinema, the festival secretary emphasized: “What matters is that we know cinema holds a certain capacity for the people, and at present this capacity rests on the shoulders of you and the media community to strengthen it with determination. We must firmly join hands and stand together.”

This edition of the event’s Sodaye-Simorgh (the festival's main competition section) is screening 31 feature-length narrative films vying for the prestigious Crystal Simorgh awards. The selection presents a dynamic mix of established masters and promising newcomers. 

Alongside these, two films are being screened out of competition, the animated movie “Guardians of the Sun,” and “Mola” by Abbas Lajevardi, a film dedicated to the theme of Eid al-Ghadir.

All 33 films in this section will be screened across 33 cinemas throughout the capital, ensuring widespread public access.

The competition lineup features acclaimed directors such as Rasoul Sadrameli, Soroush Sehat, Manouchehr Hadi, Alireza Motamedi, and Mostafa Razzaq-Karimi and they are joined by a cadre of young and first-time filmmakers.

The intense production schedule leading up to the festival is notable, with a significant number of competing films having wrapped filming in recent days. This pace has resulted in limited released details and visuals for some entries, with several production teams opting for a discreet approach in their final preparations.

Earlier in January, the poster for the 44th Fajr National Film Festival, inspired by an iconic image of veteran actor Ali Nassirian from the film “The Stone Lion,” directed by Masoud Jafari Jozani, was unveiled.

Designed by Mehdi Davaei, the festival poster emphasizes one of Iran’s cinematic masterpieces—featuring an image from "The Stone Lion." The portrayal depicts an Iranian man and his deep bond with the land, echoing national sentiments in the aftermath of this year's 12-day conflict with the Zionist regime.

Choosing "The Stone Lion" for the 44th Fajr Film Festival poster signifies a meaningful link between current cinema and Iran’s cultural, historical, and mythological heritage.

It underscores the festival’s commitment to revisiting and emphasizing national identity through cinematic works.

44th Fajr National Film Festival will run until February 11.

SAB/