TEHRAN -- The review process for films submitted to compete in the 43rd Fajr International Film Festival (FIFF) is to officially begin on Thursday, according to Ahad Sadeghi, the director of the festival’s secretariat. 
Speaking to local media, Sadeghi highlighted the strong response from filmmakers this year, noting that the selection committee will start evaluating the submitted works by the end of this week.  
A notable aspect of this year’s submissions is the significant presence of debut filmmakers, who account for nearly half of the total entries, iFilm reported. 
He further emphasized the high level of participation from the private sector, which submitted over 70 films for consideration. In addition, 22 films were submitted by state-backed production companies. 
This year’s submissions feature a wide variety of genres. Of the registered entries, 52 are social dramas, 10 are comedies, five are children’s and youth films, and 10 belong to the Sacred Defense (war-themed) genre. The lineup also includes three animated films. 
Sadeghi also highlighted the contribution of women in the production of the submitted films. Out of the total entries, two films were directed by female filmmakers, while four female producers played key roles in producing other submitted works. 
Looking ahead, Sadeghi stated that, with the selection committee beginning its review this week, the list of films selected for the festival’s competition sections is expected to be announced by mid-January. 
The 43rd Fajr Film Festival, led by Manouchehr Shahsavari, will take place in February 2025.