Organized by the Ministry of Information, the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and the Iranian Embassy in New Delhi, the four-day event will screen a total of 14 popular recent productions of Iran cinema for the Indian people, IRNA reported.
Indian Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore, Iranian ambassador, Gholamreza Ansari, cultural figures from the two countries and a large number of people attended the opening ceremony.
Emphasizing the expansion of cultural ties between the two countries, Ansari said, Holding festivals is one way to increase understanding and exchanges between our two great nations.
The event commemorates the 60th year of signing cultural agreements between New Delhi and Tehran and the establishment of Irans Cultural House in the Indian capital.
Pointing to the thousand years of relationship between India and Iran, Rathore said that it received a fresh impetus during the May visit of the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Tehran, when several new agreements were signed, including strengthening of cultural exchanges.
Films and cultural exchanges are the best medium to promote friendship between peoples and nations.
To take the process forward, the ministry will explore the possibility of showcasing a number of Indian films through a festival of Indian films in Iran, Rathore said.
The film festival opened with A Cube of Sugar, directed by the renowned filmmaker Reza Mirkarimi. Manoucher Hadis One Wants to Talk to You and Maziar Miris Painting Pool are among the other movies set for screening.
Musical Performance by Ronak
A part of the opening ceremony was dedicated to a musical performance by Ronak Ensemble. The performance of different Iranian folk pieces was warmly welcomed by the audience.
Also, opening on the sidelines of the festival was a handicraft exhibition showcasing various forms of artworks made by Iranian craftsmen including inlay, vitreous enamels, metal, wood and textile artworks as well as an art gallery of Iranian calligraphy.
Iran will attend this years handicrafts exhibition in India as a guest of honor.
The film festival will wrap up on July 19, but other programs would be organized in the coming months in the field of literature, calligraphy and crafts.
It should be noted that the production of the first Indo-Iranian joint film Salaam Mumbai is almost over and is passing post-production phase to get ready for release in Iran and India. Iranian actors Mohammad Reza Golzar and Benyamin Bahadori play in the movie besides Indian actors Dia Mirza, Poonam Dhillon, Dalip Tahil, Gulshan Grover, Behrouz Chahal and Simran Mishrikoti.
The film, which was shot in both countries, is directed by Iranian filmmaker Ghorban Mohammadpour and co-produced by his compatriot Javad Norouzbeigi, and Indian Pahlaj Nihalani.
Regarding the popularity of Indian films among Iranians plus the presence of film stars of the two countries and a love story with a tinge of singing, the expectations are high for the movie to have a big box-office in both countries.
By Financial Tribune
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