18th Resistance International Film Festival Concludes with a Celebration of Artistic Excellence and Global Resistance

TEHRAN – The 18th Resistance International Film Festival concluded with a vibrant closing ceremony at Vahdat Hall on Saturday night, celebrating the remarkable talents of filmmakers and honoring the winners across various categories. This prestigious event highlights the importance of cinematic expression in advocating for resistance against oppression and injustice.

Festival secretary Jalal Ghaffari opened the ceremony with a heartfelt message, stating, “Tonight marks the conclusion of the 18th edition of the festival. Thanks to the efforts of the people who organized it over seventeen editions, the festival has reached this stage.” He emphasized the significance of the awards, noting that their true value lies not in monetary terms, but in the ideals and goals they represent.

During the event, Ghaffari shared insights about the festival’s submissions, highlighting that works from various countries such as Tunisia, Argentina, Russia, and Iraq were received. In total, over 3,500 films were submitted, showcasing the festival’s growing influence and reach. “The number of submissions nearly doubled, inspired by the events following the Al-Aqsa Storm, which sensitized our artists to the power of resistance as a unifying force between people and art,” he remarked. He concluded by expressing hope that the festival’s closing would pave the way for a bright future, emphasizing the need for continuous dialogue and film creation centered around resistance.

The festival featured several outstanding films, including the wartime drama Majnoon, which focuses on Martyr Major General Mahdi Zeinoddin. This film garnered multiple awards, including:

• Best Directing for Mehdi Shamohammadi
• Best Actor for Sajjad Babai
• Best Resistance Film for producer Abbas Naderan
• Best Music awarded to Majid Entezami
• Best Set Design for Behzad Jafari
• Best Cinematography for Saeid Barati

Additionally, Majnoon received the Jury Special Award. The film, produced by Owj Arts and Media Organization, depicts the heroic actions of Mehdi Zeinoddin, who emerged as a leader during the Iran-Iraq war (1980-1989), particularly on Majnoon Island during the Khaybar operation.

Another notable film, North by Southwest, directed by Hamid Zargarnejad, was recognized with:

• Best Editing awarded to Majid Taromi
• Best Screenplay shared by Zargarnejad, Seyyed Mohammad Hosseini, and Mohammad Javad Eslami
• Honorable mention for Best Actress awarded to Behnaz Jafari

This film, set against the backdrop of the Iran-Iraq War, follows Mahdi, a security officer on a quest to uncover the mystery behind a truck carrying explosives. His investigation leads to an enigmatic figure named Majid and a clandestine group led by Zohreh, whose religious facade conceals their involvement in sabotage activities.

Other noteworthy awards included:

• Best Actress Award for Roya Afshar in Hoor’s Tears
• Honorable mention for Best Actor for Shahram Haqiqatdoost in The Heart of Raqqah
• Best First-Time Director awarded to Reza Keshavarz for Kianoush’s Garden
• Best Film Award given to North by Southwest

In the international section, awards were distributed for various categories, including:

• Best Long Documentary awarded to From Balkhab’s Land by Zohreh Fazeli from Afghanistan
• Best Short Fiction Film presented to Al-Ahd by Morteza Jassem from Iraq
• Best Medium-Length Documentary awarded to Thalalath Farshad by Hassan Khalifa from Lebanon
• Best Long Documentary for Artoum Sumo from Russia
• Best Short Fiction awarded to Shared Sky by Seyyed Fahim Haider from Pakistan

In the national documentary section, Bano, produced by Mohammad Habibi Mansour, received the Martyr Avini badge, which is awarded to films aligning with the perspective of Martyr Avini. Other notable awards included:

• Best Documentary Director for Seyyed Mostafa Seyedalhosseini for Seven Years Here
• Best Short Documentary Director awarded to Ehsan Sabori for Last Farewell
• Best Research Award presented to Farshad Ektesabi for The Bottom Line
• Special Jury Prize awarded to One Square Meter of Soil, directed by Nima Mahdian

The festival, organized by the Association of the Revolution and Sacred Defense Cinema and the Revayat Foundation, serves as a vital platform for promoting cinematic works that embody the spirit of resistance against injustice and inequality. As the curtains close on this year’s event, the festival continues to inspire filmmakers and audiences alike to engage with the powerful narratives of resilience and struggle.

Photo: Iranian musician Majid Entezami (second from right) with his award for best music at the closing ceremony of the 18th Resistance International Film Festival in Tehran, May 24, 2025.

SAB/