TEHRAN The theme of "dialogue among civilizations" takes the spotlight in the Second Tehran International Animation Festival where outstanding animation works from countries around the world are displayed on the subjects of peace, dialogue and friendship.

The "dialogue among civilizations" concept is among the themes running through the Tehran festival which, among others, highlights 2001 as the "Year of Dialogue Among Civilizations".

Secretary of the festival, Mohammadreza Karimi Saremi, said that the section on "Dialogue Among Civilizations" embodies works of celebrated world animators including Iranian animators, animations on children and dialogue, and pieces from the International Animation Association.

He said the program was aimed to prepare the ground for and promote global understanding through an exchange of cultures and expanded presentation of ideas and images.

Works of prominent animators from Canada, France, Italy, U.S., Sweden, Japan, India, Finland, the Netherlands, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Russia and Yugoslavia are among those displayed in the festival.

Animations made by children and young adults from countries all over the world have been screened for presentation in the children's and dialogue sector of the festival.

Animated works in the fields of history and culture will be shown in the Iranian Animation Sector.

The Second Tehran International Animation Festival, which opened on Monday morning at the Center for Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults here, runs until Thursday (today).

On the sidelines of the festival, an animation film market, the first to be held in the capital, has also opened displaying the animated works of 10 Iranian production companies.

"The animation film market aims to introduce locally produced animated works before international producers in the hope of finding markets for such products," Karimi Saremi said.

(IRNA)