IRNA - The 35th edition of Fajr Film Festival opened in the presence of Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Reza Salehi-Amiri at Tehran’s Milad Tower on Saturday evening.


Addressing the gathering, head of Cinema Organization and deputy culture minister Hojatollah Ayoubi appreciated Iranian actress Taraneh Alidoosti who boycotted this year's Oscar Academy Awards ceremony in a show of protest against US President Donald Trump’s decision to impose visa bans on Iranians.

Last week, Alidoosti took to Twitter and Instagram to slam Trump’s planned visa bans, which she described as “racist” and “unacceptable.”

The participates of the prestigious event also paid respect to the hero Iranian firefighters who lost their lives in the Plasco tragic incident on January 26, 2017.

Meanwhile, four veteran Iranians active in film industry including Mohammad Kasebi, Gholamreza Mousavi, Touraj Mansouri and Farhad Touhidi also received lifetime achievement awards at the 35th Fajr Film Festival.

The festival will be running in Tehran and several other Iranian cities from Jan. 29 to Feb. 9.