Iranian Filmmakers Take Center Stage on Global Festival Circuit

Date: 12 August 2025 - 21:47

News ID: ۱۴۲۵۰۷

TEHRAN -- In a notable wave of global engagement, Iranian cinema continues to make its mark through both creative output and active participation in international film festivals—this time highlighted by new jury appointments and fresh festival selections.
Documentary filmmaker Pouya Aghalizadeh has been named a juror for the DMZ International Documentary Film Festival in South Korea.
The festival, held annually near the tense border region between North and South Korea, champions themes of peace, coexistence, and reconciliation. Now in its seventeenth edition (September 11–17, 2025), the DMZ Festival is a significant platform for documentary cinema in East Asia.
Aghalizadeh, also a member of the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) and an established auteur, brings a distinct Iranian perspective to the jury panel.
His filmography includes award-winning works such as Playback (2022) and Room No. 4 (2016), noted for their experimental forms and nuanced storytelling.
Meanwhile, acclaimed Iranian filmmaker Ahmad Zayeri has been appointed goodwill ambassador for humanitarian storytelling at the Earl’s Court International Film Festival in London.
Known internationally for his empathetic portrayals of children caught in war and crisis, Zayeri’s new role involves fostering international collaborations and supporting emerging filmmakers dedicated to socially conscious cinema.
His works, including Olive Tree of Saad and War Citizen, have earned accolades across diverse festivals—from the MENA Film Festival in the Netherlands to the Riverside International Film Festival in the U.S.
The festival’s director lauded Zayeri’s capacity to transform human suffering into profound, empathetic narratives, underscoring the alignment between his vision and the festival’s mission.
On the creative front, two Iranian short films are poised for international exposure. Genesis X (originally Genesis Version X), directed by Seyed Abbas Husseini, is an experimental project blending archival medical footage with AI-generated imagery to interrogate cinematic language and the concept of human creation.
The film eschews traditional shooting methods, using X-rays, surgical videos, and digital composites to open new narrative pathways—an ambitious formal experiment that reframes the biblical Book of Genesis in a contemporary context.
Husseini’s prior works have been recognized at the Tehran Short Film Festival and the Farhang Foundation Film Festival in the U.S., marking him as a persistent innovator on Iran’s short film scene.
Further expanding Iran’s international presence, I Hate My Left Hand, written and directed by Abbas Mahyad, has been selected for the 2025 Louth International Film Festival in Ireland.
The festival, which runs from September 5 to 7, brings together a diverse array of filmmakers and audiences, with jurors including notable industry figures such as Iron Man 3 director Shane Black.
Mahyad’s film adds to the growing roster of Iranian shorts resonating beyond national borders, reflecting the continued vitality and global relevance of Iran’s short-form cinema.