TEHRAN -- Iran and Turkey have signed a new agreement aimed at strengthening cinematic ties, marking a notable step in cultural cooperation between the two neighboring countries.
The memorandum of understanding was concluded in Shiraz during an international gathering on film collaboration, held alongside the Fajr International Film Festival. It was signed by Raed Faridzadeh, head of Iran’s Cinema Organization, and Birol Güven, director-general for cinema at Turkey’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
According to officials, the agreement is designed to broaden opportunities for both nations’ film industries. One of its central aims is the mutual exchange and commercial distribution of Iranian and Turkish films, opening the door for wider audiences and potentially improving the global reach of each country’s productions.
The document also places strong emphasis on joint film-making. It outlines plans for co-productions across a wide range of formats—including feature films, documentaries, short films and animation—drawing on the shared cultural and historical links between the two societies.
Access to filming locations and studio facilities will be made easier under the agreement, with both sides expressing hope that smoother logistical cooperation will encourage larger and more ambitious projects.
A further section focuses on talent and training. The two nations intend to promote exchanges between technical experts, film professionals, teachers and students, aiming to enrich skills and support the development of emerging film-makers.
Cultural engagement sits at the heart of the initiative. The two countries plan to host joint film weeks, offering audiences in both Iran and Turkey a curated introduction to each other’s cinema.
The announcement came during a three-day international cinema meeting in Shiraz, attended by representatives from 23 countries—including ministers, senior cultural officials and ambassadors—highlighting a growing appetite for regional collaboration in the arts.