TEHRAN – Iran Cinema Organization (ICO) Director Hojjatollah Ayyubi has said that Iran is ready to dedicate a day to screening films from the Philippines during the 33rd Fajr International Film Festival, which will be held in Tehran during February.
He made the remarks during a meeting on Tuesday with Philippine Ambassador to Iran Eduardo Martin Menez, the ICO announced in a press release on Wednesday.
“Iran enjoys a big cinema and that is why the Iran Cinema Organization is big as well,” Ayyubi said.
The organization covers several other foundations and associations such as the Farabi Cinema Foundation, which supports film productions, and the Iranian Young Cinema Society (IYCS), which trains young filmmakers, Ayyubi explained.
He also said that several festivals are being held across the country, adding that Filipino filmmakers will be encouraged to attend the festivals so they will be more familiar with events in Iran.
The cinema of the Philippines is not well known in Iran, Ayyubi said, “Iran and the Philippines enjoy many commonalities and the cinema of Iran can replace the cinema of the United States and Europe in the Philippines.”
Iranian filmmakers are also willing to attend the cinematic events in the Philippines. “Holding film weeks in both countries can help promote the cinema of the two countries, Ayyubi added.
Eduardo Martin Menez next explained that most of the films in his country are low-budget films and that politicians of his county are interested in cinema.
He also proposed to hold the cinema day in Iran to mark the 50th anniversary of Iran-Philippines relations.
Bilateral ties between the cineastes of both countries were also discussed during the meeting.
RM/YAW
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