TEHRAN -- The 43rd Fajr 
International Film Festival commenced on Thursday evening at the Vahdat Hall in Tehran, with a tribute to notable figures in the Iranian cinema industry, including Sirus Alvand, Reza Babak, and Manouchehr Valizadeh.
The opening ceremony was attended by a host of artists and officials, such as Minister of Culture Seyyed Abbas Salehi, head of the Cinema Organization Raed Faridzadeh, and deputy head of the Cinema Organization Mehdi Shafiei.
Highlights of the evening included segments from the film “Mother,” in memory of late director Ali Hatami, and a speech by festival director Manouchehr Shahsavari.
The ceremony honored Sirus Alvand, coinciding with his birthday, with tributes from his daughter Mahour Alvand and filmmaker Fereydoun Jeyrani.
The event also paid homage to late cinema figures with AI-enhanced performances and video clips, notably featuring the voice and image of late Iranian actor Khosro Shakibai.
Awards were presented in such categories as Best Trailer, Best Poster, and Best Photography, which Qadir Hamzeh Emam Chay and Muhammad Rouh al-Amini won.
Lebanese singer Moein Shereef performed songs reflecting on the recent conflict in Gaza, emphasizing themes of justice and unity.
The festival aims to promote unity and appreciation for Iranian cinema, as highlighted by Salehi’s closing remarks.  
This year’s festival is set to screen a diverse selection of films, representing various genres and storytelling approaches, offering a comprehensive view of Iranian cinema’s current landscape and future direction.
The 2025 Fajr International Film Festival runs from January 31 to February 10.
The annual film festival is held in commemoration of the Ten-Day Fajr celebrations, which marks the return of the late founder of the Islamic Republic Imam Khomeini on February 1 and the victory of the Islamic Revolution on February 11, 1979.