The 42nd Fajr International Film Festival (FIFF), Iran’s most important film event, has officially begun in Tehran.

According to The Iran Project, the opening ceremony of the 42nd Fajr International Film Festival was held on Wednesday evening - January 31 - begining with the playing of the national anthem of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Mojtaba Amini, secretary of this event, welcomed the guests and said, "A new cinema was reborn after the victory of the Islamic revolution and today we are witnessing its brilliance."

The national section of the 42nd Fajr International Film Festival started on Thursday (February 1).

A total of 37 movies are to compete in three sections, Sodaye-Simorgh (the festival’s main competition section), New Perspective (first-time filmmakers), and Animations.

The line-up comprises 22 Iranian feature films in the main competition section, 11 films in the New Perspective section, and 4 animated films in their own specified section.

Hozeh Honari (Art Bureau) has a strong presence at this year’s edition with six films, promising a cinematic journey through varied genres, showcasing the depth and diversity of the Iranian film industry.

Amir Abbas Rabiei's “Ahmad,” recounts the untold story of the first 18 hours of the Bam earthquake, coinciding with its 20th anniversary.
he war film “Western Sky,” directed by Mohammad Asgari, portrays the bravery of martyred pilot Ali Akbar Shiroudi. Filmed in Kermanshah Province, the movie stars Milad Keimaram as Martyr Shiroudi.

Behrouz Afkhami's “Execution Morning,” delves into the final moments of Tayyab Haj Rezaei and Ismail Rezaei, sentenced to death after the June 15, 1963 uprising.

Reza Keshavarz Haddad's “Kianoush Garden,” adapted from a book of the same name, explores teenage adventures in the 1980-1990 era

Another book adaptation, Qurban Ali Taherfar's “Projectionist,” narrates the story of a building painter passionate about cinema.

An animation focusing on the future, “Dream City,” directed by Mohsen Enayati, features the adventure of a boy named Arat.

Some notable competitors in the main competition section of this year’s festival include Ali Saqafi’s “Parviz Khan” with Notable actors such as Saeed Poursamimi, Maryam Sa’adat, Hamidreza Pegah, and Behnam Tashakkor in the cast; “Paradise of Criminals” by Masoud Jafari-Jozani's starring Amir-Hossein Arman, Reza Yazdani, Ladan Mostofi, and Sahar Jafari-Jozani; and Mahmoud Kalari’s “Summer of the Same Year” featuring Mehran Modiri, Ali Shademan, Fariba Naderi, Roya Javidnia, Saber Abar and Pejman Bazeghi.

Other much-anticipated contenders include Soheil Movaffaq's “Nowruz,” featuring Ali Nasirian, Mehdi Hashemi, Shabnam Moqaddami, Afshin Hashemi, and Mahtab Servati; Javad Ezzati’s “Bloody Crocodile” featuring Abbas Jamshidifar, Saeed Aqakhani, Elnaz Habibi, Behzad Khalaj, and Shabnam Qorbani; and Babak Khajepasha's “Light Blue” featuring Mehran Ahmadi, Mehran Ghafourian, Rouhollah Zamani, Ali-Akbar Asanlou, and Kazem Hazhir-Azad.

Winners of various categories in both national and international sections will be announced on the last day of the festival on February 11.