TEHRAN -- The 17th Ammar International Popular Film Festival has announced its call for entries under the slogan “The Nation’s Resurgence — Iran, a Superpower,” inviting filmmakers and digital content creators to submit their works by November 21, 2026.
According to the festival secretariat, this edition will focus on contemporary issues and social needs, emphasizing public participation, resistance, social justice and Iran’s development.
The festival has identified 13 priority themes, including “The Martyred Imam,” “The Global Movement of the Oppressed,” “Transition to a New World Order,” “The Third Sacred Defense,” “The Ideals of Ruhollah,” “The Iranian Dream,” “National Memory,” “Economic Warfare,” “Cultural Warfare” and “The Citadel of Knowledge.”
A special section titled “The Resurgent Nation” will focus on public participation in political developments, grassroots and student activism, social cooperation, public awareness and narratives promoting hope and self-confidence. Further details about this section will be announced separately.
Competition Categories
The competitive program accepts short, medium-length and feature-length fiction films, television films, documentaries, animation and music videos.
Eligible television productions include magazine-style programs, reality shows, documentary competitions and news reports. The festival will also accept content from personality-driven and subject-focused social media pages, online programs, vlogs, short-form videos and productions created using artificial intelligence.
Screenplays may be submitted as concepts, synopses or complete scripts for fiction films, television series and animation, as well as proposals for documentary screenplays.
Youth Filmmaking and Public Screenings
The “Our Film” section is dedicated to filmmakers aged 18 and under. Participants may use any type of camera or a mobile phone to produce films based on the festival’s announced themes.
Public screenings remain a central component of the festival, which seeks to expand access to cinema associated with the Islamic Revolution. The secretariat has invited cultural activists, university and school students, mosque prayer leaders, religious associations and other interested members of the public to register as community screening organizers.
This year, screenings in public squares and streets across Iran will be a priority for the festival’s community screening network. Details of the “Street Cinema” initiative are available through the festival’s official website.
The “People’s Awards” section will allow individuals, community organizations and institutions to recognize filmmakers whose works address their interests and