Iran to expand cinematic activities in Asia-pacific countries
Iran took part in an Asia-pacific meeting in China to expand cinematic cooperation with the zone’s countries. The meeting titled ‘Film Joint Production and Market’ was also attended by representatives of Thailand, the Philippines, Pakistan, Vietnam and Australia, IRNA wrote.
Iran’s Cultural Attaché in China Mohammad Rassoul Almasieh said that Iran has been always enthusiastic about expanding cooperation in different fields including the cinema sector.
Asian countries’ rich culture and history made their cooperation inevitable, Almasieh said.
Speaking about Iran’s capabilities in film production, he added that Iran is able to train new generation of filmmakers.
Almasieh said that Iran produces 200 films annually of which some are introduced in film festivals, but still there are many films that do not take part in festivals but are able to attract viewers.
Iran’s cinema is rooted in its culture, civilization and literature, he said, and that is why it always attracts viewers.
The Asia-pacific Film Festival has been held annually since 1954 in an Asian country designated by the Board of Directors of the Federation of Motion Picture Producers in Asia-pacific.
The federation was renamed Asian Film Producers’ Federation in 1957 when membership was enlarged to include South Korea. From 1982, the federation changed its constitution and name to include the Pacific.
Today, the Federation of Motion Picture Producers in Asia Pacific (FPA) is the organizing body for the Asia-pacific Film Festival.
Each year, the Board of Directors selects a member as the festival’s host city. Participating member cities are Bangkok, Bombay, Hanoi, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Kuwait, Manila, Moscow, Seoul, Singapore, Sydney, Taipei, Tashkent, Tbilisi, Tehran, Tokyo and Wellington.