Iranian Film Festival in Malaysia A Symbol of Deepening Cultural Ties
Habibreza Arzani made the remark at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur on Monday attended by Malaysian media.
The 4th Iranian Film Festival in Malaysia has become an important platform for cultural dialogue between the two countries over the past years and has shown that art, especially cinema, is a universal language for strengthening mutual understanding and bringing nations closer together, he said.
He thanked all the institutions and organizations that played a role in organizing this event, especially the Malaysian National Film Development Corporation (FINAS) and the GSC Cinema Chain Company as the main sponsors of the festival, and thanked the cultural partners, filmmakers, media representatives, and all the festival’s executive colleagues.
Arzani stated that this year’s festival will be held in four different locations across Malaysia, adding that the films will be screened in the states of Sabah, Johor, and two locations in Kuala Lumpur, which indicates the increasing interest of Malaysian audiences in Iranian cinema and an effort to reach a wider range of people interested in Iranian cinema.
The cultural envoy also announced the formation of a joint Iranian-Malaysian scientific-cinematic committee during the festival, saying this committee was formed with the aim of strengthening professional and academic cooperation in the field of cinema and creating a sustainable framework for future joint initiatives.
Referring to the position of Iranian cinema in the international arena, he said in recent decades, Iranian cinema has been able to present simple but profound narratives by focusing on humanity, morality, family, human dignity, and social justice, and away from flashy displays, and has been able to have a continuous and respectable presence in prestigious international festivals.
Arzani considered Majid Majidi's presence one of the highlights of this period of the festival and said the works of this prominent Iranian filmmaker, including “Children of the Sky”, “The Color of God”, “Rain”, and “The Song of Sparrows”, are outstanding examples of value-oriented and humane cinema that reflect concepts such as kindness, hope, sacrifice, spirituality, and respect for human dignity in a universal language.
He added that the opening ceremony of the fourth Iranian Film Festival in Malaysia will be held in early February, coinciding with the mid-Shaaban Eid.
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During this festival, a specialized training workshop will be held with the presence of Majid Majidi, which is a valuable opportunity for filmmakers, students, and cinema enthusiasts in Malaysia to directly get acquainted with his professional views and experiences, he stated.
Arzani emphasized: Holding such events can pave the way for expanding joint cooperation between Iran and Malaysia in the field of cinema, including joint production, artist exchange, holding training workshops, and developing cultural markets.
He concluded by saying: I hope that the fourth Iranian film festival in Malaysia will be a common platform for deepening cultural and artistic relations between the two countries, and that this path will continue with greater strength in the coming years.
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