TEHRAN -- One hundred foreign troupes expressed their readiness to participate at next year’s Fadjr International Theater Festival to be held here in winter.

The 25th edition of the event is to open on Jan. 8, 2007, celebrating “Ghadir Khumm” -- the day Imam Ali (AS) was appointed as the real successor to the Holy Prophet (S).

Various countries, including Germany, France, Italy, Britain, Poland, Bulgaria, Canada, Estonia, Turkey, Switzerland, Serbia, Finland, Lebanon, Armenia, Romania, and India are eager to take part at the annual festival.

The selection board is examining the films sent to the secretariat to pick up the foreign participants.

Theater instructor Saeid Keshen-Fallah has been appointed as the festival’s secretary.