TEHRAN – A large number of Iranian cineastes, who attended the opening ceremony of the 33rd Fajr Film Festival in Tehran on Saturday, signed a statement to censure the French satirical weekly, Charlie Hebdo, for publishing cartoons insulting Prophet Muhammad (S).
The ceremony was held at Milad Tower and the secretary of the festival, Alireza Rezadad, and cineastes Mahtab Karamati, Roya Teimurian, Hanieh Tavassoli, Sareh Bayat, Hossein Yari and Rima Raminfar were among those who signed the statement.
The opening ceremony continued with short speeches delivered by officials and cultural figures.
Rezadad called the festival a beginning for film screening and togetherness, and wished success to and expressed happiness for Iran’s cinema and Iranian cineastes.
The cineastes that passed away last year were later commemorated by the screening of a music video at the ceremony.
Addressing the audience, Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Ali Jannati expressed thanks to the cineastes who tried to create a positive and constructive atmosphere in which to work.
“One of the positive points of this year’s festival is the strong participation of young talents who have made films. They must know that they owe their innovations and creativity to the efforts and assistance of the veterans who helped them flourish,” the minister added.
The Labor, Cooperatives and Social Welfare Minister Ali Rabiei in his short speech stated that he regarded film as the only media art that has made the visualization of man’s imagination possible.
RM/YAW
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