Iran's Fajr Film Festival Concludes with Glittering Ceremony

The event commenced with the official opening on the 11th of Bahman (February 1) at Tehran's Vahdat Hall.

On Saturday night, February 10, nominees were revealed, setting the stage for competition across various categories, including films, directors, artists, and actors.

The ceremony, broadcast live on several television networks, featured distinguished guests, including Mohammad Mehdi Esmaeili, the Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, and Mohammad Khazaei, the head of the Cinema Organization.

Mojtaba Amini, the festival's secretary, expressed gratitude to the participants and organizers, highlighting the collaborative effort that made the festival a success.

Prizes were awarded across multiple categories, with notable recipients including Mahmoud Kalari for the film "That Summer" and Daryush Yari for "Passionate Madness."

Special recognition was given to Askhat Kuchinchirekov for "Baverina Salo" and Zahou al-Jar Ghola Pordash for "Winter Dream."

In the New Look section, Mohammad Brothers clinched the Crystal Simorgh for their film "Ahmad," while Hamid Rasoulian received accolades for "Invisible Hand" in the Cinema of Happiness category.

Among the honorees were Arasto Khoshravesh for his performance in "Morning of Execution" and Maral Bani Adam for her role in "Parvin."

The ceremony also celebrated technical excellence, with awards presented for makeup, scene design, costume design, sound recording, sound design, music score, editing, and cinematography.

Notable figures such as Majid Entezami and Kooheyar Kalari were recognized for their contributions to the industry.

The event concluded with the presentation of the Arman Award, the special prize of the Tehran Municipality, to the film "That Summer."

Furthermore, Ensieh Shah Hosseini was honored with the Goharshad Honorary Diploma, a special award bestowed by the Minister of Guidance, for her remarkable contribution to the film "Missing Hand."

Alessandro Bardani clinched the prestigious Crystal Simorgh for Best Screenplay with his captivating script "Best Century of My Life."

The title of Best Director was awarded to Alejandro Rojas and Juan Sebastián Vasquez for their masterful direction in "Upon Entry."

The highest accolade of the evening, the Crystal Simorgh for Best Film, was presented to Stephan Komandarev for the poignant and powerful "Blaga's Lessons," a collaborative effort from Germany and Bulgaria.

The Soureh Cinema Organization of Hozeh Honari of the Islamic Revolution made an impressive showing at the 42nd Fajr Film Festival, securing 10 Crystal Simorgh awards and an honorary diploma. Among the highlights, "West Sky" directed by Mohammad Askari clinched the Crystal Simorgh for Best Director in the East Manifestation section, while "West Sky" also took home the Crystal Simorgh for Best Film from a national perspective, attributed to Habibullah Vaalinejad.

The ceremony provided a platform to honor excellence in Iranian cinema and celebrate the talent and creativity of its contributors.