Tehran, May 30, IRNA – Organizers of the 5th International Urban Film Festival paid tribute to several cineastes during a ceremony held at Tehran’s Eyvan-e Shams Hall.

The ceremony was attended by Cinema Organization of Iran (COI) Director Hojjatollah Ayyubi, director of the Art and Cultural Organization of Tehran Municipality Mahmud Salahi, and a great number of filmmakers and artists.

According to Tehran Times, the tribute was paid to the veteran screen and stage actor Morteza Ahmadi (1924-2014).

Ahmadi appeared in over 30 films and also voiced many animation characters over his 65-year career. He is famous for his voice of the sly fox that tricks Pinocchio.

A documentary containing memoirs of filmmaker Rasul Mollaqolipur produced by his son Ali was screened afterwards, and Mollaqolipur’s wife and son appeared on stage to receive the honorary plaque.

Mollaqolipur died of a heart attack in March 2007 at the age of 51. Most of his works directly or indirectly were related to the effects of the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war, which is known in Iran as the Sacred Defense.

“Qeisar” filmmaker Masud Kimiaii expressed his happiness in receiving an award from his city, Tehran, when he was called on stage to receive his plaque of honor. “The only thing people wish for this city not to have is children begging for money in the streets.”

“Hush! Girls Don’t Scream” director Puran Derakhshandeh was also honored on stage.

“The Urban festival means our home, the home in which father, mother and the elderly help us grow. The Urban festival belongs to everybody and perhaps it is our most important `festival, in which the city and history exist and the citizens can see themselves. The city and the citizens are the two wings of a bird,” she explained.

“The festival reopened after four years, but I still am concerned about the people I am living with in this city,” she added.

The festival opened on May 24 and will be running until June 2.

By IRNA