Iran`s Fajr International Film Market to open in February

TEHRAN,Dec.26(MNA)--The 15th edition of the Iranian International Film Market will be running from February 2 to 6 in Tehran. The market is held annually on the sidelines of the Fajr International Film Festival, the most important event on the Iranian cinematic calendar. International organizations, producers, and distributors are invited to attend the event to offer their latest productions, executive director of the market Vahid Esfandiari said on Sunday. He added that all the organizations related to cinema including producers, film distributors, international film magazines, and the different channels of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) are asked to have active participation. The 30th Fajr International Film Festival will be running from February 1 to 11 in Tehran and several other cities. Organizers have announced the members of the board of selection for the international section of the festival. Julien Pélissier from France is on the five-member list. He studied petroleum economics in France and continued his studies at Imam Sadeq University in Tehran. He obtained a PhD in Islamic studies at the University of Toulouse in 2009. Iranian producer Mehdi Homayunfar, filmmakers Mohammad Bozorgnia, Rasul Sadr-Ameli, and Shahram Asadi are the other four members. A board of nine cineastes has also been assigned to select entries in the Iranian film section. Filmmakers Azizollah Hamidnejad and Hamid Nematollah, producer Habibollah Kasesaz, theater director Ali Rafiei, and the Culture Ministry Supervision and Evaluation Office (SEO) Director Alireza Sajjadpur are among the members of the board. Also included are film critic Javad Tusi, screenwriters Jalil Erfanmanesh and Minu Farshchi, and Bahman Habashi an official from the Deputy Culture Minister for Cinematic Affairs.