43rd Fajr Film Festival Celebrates Iranian Cinema Legends: Honoring Three Distinguished Icons

The 43rd Fajr Film Festival officially kicked off on Thursday at Vahdat Hall in Tehran, marking a significant event in the Iranian film industry. This year’s festival opened with a grand ceremony attended by the Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, Seyyed Abbas Salehi, alongside numerous artists and cultural luminaries.

During the opening event, the festival paid homage to three legendary figures of Iranian cinema: filmmaker Sirus Alvand, actor Reza Babak, and voice artist Manoochehr Valizadeh, as reported by IRNA.

Tributes to Cinema Legends

The first tribute honored Sirus Alvand, coinciding with his 74th birthday. A video showcasing his work as a screenwriter and director was presented before he was recognized on stage. Esteemed filmmaker Fereydoun Jeyrani, movie critic Javad Tusi, festival secretary Manouchehr Shahsavari, and Alvand’s daughter, Mahoor Alvand, were present during this special moment.

“When Sirus Alvand entered the professional cinema industry, he paid attention to the concept of family and portrayed it as a safe haven. He has never had a pessimistic or negative outlook in his films,” stated Tusi.

Amid the audience’s applause, Alvand expressed his gratitude, saying, “I am glad that this tribute is happening while I am still alive.” Alvand’s career began as a film critic and screenwriter, and he directed his first film, Sanjar, in 1971. He remains one of the few pre-Revolution filmmakers still active today, with several of his films becoming box-office hits. In 1992, he earned a Crystal Simorgh for Best Director for Once and for All at the 11th Fajr Film Festival.

Noteworthy films from Alvand include:

Cargo (1987)
The Face (1995)
The Corrupted Hands (1999)
The Intruder (2001)
Blood Orange (2010)

In 2019, his contributions were recognized at a special ceremony held at Iran’s House of Cinema.

The second tribute was dedicated to Reza Babak, with director Marzieh Boroumand and actor Mohammad-Reza Sharifinia attending. A video interview featuring Babak was also showcased.

“Reza Babak has played a fundamental role in all children’s works in theater, TV, and cinema. If it weren’t for him, we wouldn’t have had so many children’s works,” Boroumand highlighted during her speech.

Babak, who is 79 years old, expressed his heartfelt sentiments, stating, “I already said everything in the video clip that was shown, but here, I just want to remember my father, my mother, and my wife, who was one of a kind.” He also recited a poem dedicated to his late wife and concluded with, “Tonight, I saw joy and exuberance in my friends and fellow artists, and I hope you always remain joyful.”

Babak has appeared in over 60 movies and TV series, including:

Ballad of Tara (1979) by Bahram Beyzai
Heritage (1988) by Kazem Balouchi
A Singing Cat (1990) by Kambuzia Partovi
In the Color of Purple (2004) and Invitation (2008) by Ebrahim Hatamikia
Ziba Barbershop (1990-1991) by Marzieh Boroumand
The Safe (2009) by Maziar Miri

The final tribute went to Manouchehr Valizadeh, a renowned dubbing artist unable to attend due to health issues. A recorded interview with him was played, receiving warm applause from the audience.

In his interview, Valizadeh reflected on his illustrious career, concluding with the phrase, “Greetings to cinema.” At 84 years old, Valizadeh is celebrated for lending his voice to countless films, including iconic performances for actors like:

Robert De Niro in The Godfather 2 and Taxi Driver
Keanu Reeves in the Matrix trilogy
Tom Hanks in Forrest Gump, Green Mile, and Saving Private Ryan
Jim Carrey in Dumb and Dumber and Sonic the Hedgehog

Valizadeh is also known for his voice work in beloved children’s animations and series, including characters like Woody and Garfield.

A Celebration of Film and Talent

During the ceremony, awards were presented for the best teaser, poster, and photo categories, highlighting the artistic achievements within the festival. The 43rd Fajr Film Festival will run from January 31 to February 10 in Tehran, showcasing a diverse lineup of films.

The Iranian Cinema Competition section features 33 films, including 13 directorial debuts, while four animated films will compete in a special category. Notable entries include:

Tears of the Lagoon by Mehdi Jafari
Justice by Abolfazl Jalili
All Alone by Amir-Hossein Saqafi
Call Me Ziba by Rasoul Sadr-Ameli

The animated film category will highlight films such as:

Legend of Sepehr by Emad Rahmani and Mehrdad Mehrabi
Dolphin Boy 2 by Mohammad Kheirandish
Zal and Roudabeh by Mohammad-Ali Sajjadi
Juliet and the King by Ashkan Rahgozar

The jury, comprising prominent figures like filmmaker Kamal Tabrizi and actor Bahram Radan, will evaluate the competing films. Winners of the Golden and Crystal Simorgh awards will be revealed during the festival’s closing ceremony.

Since its inception in 1983, the annual Fajr Film Festival has been held every February in Tehran, coinciding with the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution. After a brief separation of the national and international sections from 2015 to 2022, the festival has now returned to its combined format.

However, it was recently announced that the national and international sections will again be separate, with the exact date for the international segment to be revealed soon.

As the festival unfolds, it continues to celebrate the rich tapestry of Iranian cinema and its talented contributors.