Filmmaker: Sacred Defense perfect manifestation of Islamic Revolution
The Islamic Revolution’s ideology was well manifested during the 1980-1988 Iraqi-imposed war – known as the Sacred Defense, said Manoochehr Shahsavari, CEO of Iran’s House of Cinema.
Shahsavari said the Sacred Defense has played a key role in preserving the country’s independence and freedom in the face of arrogant powers, the official website of Resistance International Film Festival reported.
“The eight years of the Sacred Defense left us a valuable heritage in the field of culture, literature, and cinema,” he said.
“This heritage will help us improve the understanding of the younger generation.”
The festival also announced that it will honor innovative filmmakers with the Rasoul Medal, named after the late war film director, Rasoul Mollaqolipour.
“The award has been launched in memory of Rasoul Mollaqolipour to encourage directors to introduce innovations in their films on the Islamic Revolution and the Sacred Defense,” the organizers announced.
To select the winner of the first edition of the award this year, a team of experts will review all movies produced by Iranian filmmakers over the past 40 years.
Mollaqolipour, whose films focused on the Iran-iraq war (19801988) died of a heart attack at age 51 in 2007.
In the early years of his filmmaking career, Mollaqolipour focused on stories about the war; so, he was regarded as a Sacred Defense filmmaker.
His films include: ‘Journey to Chazabeh,’ ‘The Burnt Slip,’ ‘The Poisonous Mushroom’ and ‘M for Mother’ were acclaimed at Iranian festivals.
The 16th Resistance International Film Festival will be held in two sections, celebrating the “Sacred Defense Week” (September 21-27) and “Basij Week” (November 21-27.)
The National Section will be held in Tehran while the International Section is scheduled to take place in the southern city of Kerman, where prominent Iranian anti-terror commander Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani has been laid to rest.
The festival is considered to be one of the most prestigious international film festivals in Iran, with an aim to create an atmosphere of dialogue and understanding of current human suffering and to foster the human spirit of brotherhood, peace, and resisting oppression and cruelty.
The event purports to use the language of film as a medium to fight terrorism and violence.
Filmmakers around the world are welcome to submit short-length and feature-length documentaries, short-length and feature-length films, animations, and music videos relevant to the festival’s topics.
Tasnim, Mehr, IRNA news agencies contributed to this story.