TEHRAN -- The 43rd Fajr International Film Festival (FIFF), Iran’s premier cinematic event and one of the most enduring film festivals in West Asia, has officially announced its call for entries for the 2025 edition, scheduled to run from November 26 to December 3 in Tehran.
This year’s festival, operating under the unifying theme of celebrating life, is set to showcase both established auteurs and emerging voices across four competitive sections, a curated retrospective, a regional film market, and a talent development campus inspired by Iran’s historic educational legacy.
At a moment of geopolitical complexity and cultural flux, FIFF positions itself once more as a platform for cinema that is at once poetic and political — an arena for storytelling that seeks to transcend boundaries while remaining grounded in the lived realities of its diverse participants.
The festival’s flagship International Competition (FIAPF-accredited) remains a showcase for world cinema at its most humanistic. Films submitted to this section are expected to address themes of justice, cultural dignity, and collective resilience through compelling visual storytelling. The awards, judged by a panel including five international and two Iranian professionals, include the Crystal Simorgh for Best Film (USD 4,000) to be shared between the director and producer.
Meanwhile, Eastern Vista, focused on cinematic output from Asia, continues FIFF’s long-standing engagement with regional storytelling. With an emphasis on cultural depth and stylistic innovation, this section offers audiences new perspectives from East Asia to West Asia, judged by an international jury with strong regional insight.
Future Frame, a section for debut and second features, reflects the festival’s commitment to emerging talent. Like Cannes’ Cinéfondation or Berlinale’s Generation, this space is where the next generation of global filmmakers can begin to chart their course.
The Broken Olive Branch section, perhaps the most thematically charged, spotlights films that tackle issues of conflict, occupation, resistance, and hope — exploring the possibility of peace through creative expression. The top film here receives a Crystal Simorgh and a USD 3,000 award.
Beyond the awards, the Retrospective section will honor a master filmmaker whose body of work exemplifies cinematic poetry and the universality of the human condition. Past honorees have included names whose legacies transcend borders, aligning with the festival’s literary and aesthetic traditions.
Returning as well is the Iranian International Market for Film & TV Programs (IFM), now in its 26th edition, and the Darolfonoon Talent Campus, offering workshops led by acclaimed directors and writers for young filmmakers from across the region.
Submissions are open until October 1, 2025, through the official festival website (www.fajriff.com). Eligible works must be feature-length (75+ minutes), completed after January 2024, and not previously released in Iran in any form. Priority will be given to world and international premieres.
Accepted formats include Non-encrypted DCP or Full HD MP4 (with English subtitles). Once selected, films may be screened up to three times, in accordance with FIAPF standards.
As the cinematic world looks toward Tehran this November, the 43rd Fajr International Film Festival offers not just a celebration of film, but a reflection of how stories — when told with honesty and artistry — can foster empathy, connection, and cultural dialogue in an increasingly fractured world.
For more information or to submit a film, visit www.fajriff.com