TEHRAN — Iran’s 20th International Resistance Theater Festival opened in Tehran with a ceremony at Azadi Tower, bringing together cultural officials, artists and foreign diplomats for an event centered on theater, war, memory and resistance.
The festival opened symbolically when Muhammad Khazaei, the young son of martyr Reza Khazaei, lit the festival lamp. The ceremony was attended by Mehdi Shafiei, deputy minister of culture and Islamic guidance for artistic affairs, festival secretary Muhammad Kazemtabar, Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh, foreign diplomatic representatives and Iranian artists and cultural officials.
The opening ceremony included a video tribute to Iranian leaders and military commanders martyred in recent terrorist wars, followed by speeches on the role of theater in documenting historical experiences and preserving collective memory.
Kazemtabar said the 20th edition was being held under circumstances unlike previous editions. He said preparations for the festival began during a period of war and that some of its programs coincided with another recent war - the 40-day Ramadan war.
According to the festival secretary, organizers produced several books and 255 dramatic narratives for possible adaptation. More than 20 stage works dealing with recent wartime experiences are also scheduled to be performed. 
Kazemtabar said more than 70 percent of the festival’s works are connected to the wars referenced in his remarks.
One of the festival’s literary projects is “Eight Scenes from the Ramadan War,” a collection of eight newly written plays focusing on events and accounts associated with the war.
Shafiei described the Resistance Theater Festival as an established event in Iran’s theatrical landscape and called for closer links between veteran artists associated with defense theater and younger performers and playwrights.
He said future editions could provide greater opportunities for audiences to watch several productions over a number of days and for artists and critics to discuss the works. He also emphasized the importance of giving younger artists space to develop new approaches to subjects traditionally associated with resistance and war.
In a message delivered at the ceremony, Shafiei described theater as a means of transmitting 
historical experience and collective memory. He said resistance theater should go beyond simply recreating historical events and develop new artistic languages capable of engaging contemporary audiences, particularly younger generations.
Khatibzadeh, who also addressed the opening, spoke about the relationship between theater and national memory. He said that nations are defined not only by geographical borders but also by the stories through which they remember their history.
The ceremony included a tribute to the families of Reza Parsamoghadam and Reza Khazaei, both associated with the cultural institutions behind the festival. A performance titled “Mother of the Diver,” directed by Pejman Shahverdi, was also presented.
Iranian actor and theater director Kourosh Zarei was honored for his years of artistic activity in theater, cinema and television, including his work involving Qur’anic narratives and theater productions focused on religious and revolutionary themes.
Another part of the program featured a solo performance by Minab-based artist Jafar Ghasemi, drawing on his personal observations of the aftermath of an attack on the Shajareh Tayebeh school in Minab.
The organizers also unveiled “Eight Scenes from the Ramadan War.” Anoosh Moazzami, one of the collection’s playwrights, said his play “Fire and Diamond” was commissioned by the festival and drew on historical documents and archival material concerning political violence in Iran in July 1981.
The ceremony concluded with recognition for instructors and organizers involved in the festival’s educational workshops. Bahman Sadegh-Hassani of Gilan, Gharib Manoochehri of Ardabil and Ali Arjomandnia of Khuzestan were recognized for their work, while Pejman Shahverdi was honored for his educational and artistic activities.
The festival lamp was then lit by Muhammad Khazaei, after which those attending stood in a symbolic gesture of respect for Iran.
The 20th International Resistance Theater Festival is organized by the Association of Revolution and Sacred Defense Theater, affiliated with the Revayat-e Fath Cultural Foundation. 
The festival brings together theatrical productions, dramatic writing, educational programs and other cultural activities centered on war, memory, identity and resistance.