36th edition of Fajr International Film Festival ends

Prominent participants in the closing ceremony included Iran's Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Abbas Salehi, head of Cinema Organization Mohammad Mehdi Heidarian, festival director Reza Mir Karimi, and world famous Iranian and foreign film makers and actors such as Oliver Stone, Reza Kianian, Oliver Montagon, and many other personalities.

Reza Mirkarimi director of the festival delivered a short speech and said nothing could be done except through cooperation. He thanked all the international and Iranian guests as well as those who did their best to make the event better than the previous editions.

He also appreciated the presence of renowned American film director Oliver Stone at the 36th Fajr International Film Festival.

This year, the Peace Award went to Rithy Panh. After the announcement by presenter Rambod Javan, Oliver Stone was asked to come on to the stage to present the award.

“I should present an award right now and you all know who the winner is. My friend worked for a long period of time and under difficult conditions to make his motion picture. I’m honoured to present Rithy Panh with the Peace Award,” Stone said.

Culture Minister Salehi also went to the stage to present the Mohammad Al Ameen Award.

After presenting Iranian director Majid Majidi with the prestigious award, the minister said: 'Iran is recognized in the world by its culture, poetry and art. There are many who are trying to show a distorted image of Iran, but there are also many others like Iranian poets, artists and filmmakers who are making every effort to show the real image of Iran to the world; the way it was, is and must be.”

Salehi added: 'I’d like to thank you all for showing the real image of Iran to the world. I’d like to thank those who have been working behind the scenes to organize efficiently the Fajr International Film Festival for four years now. I’d also like to thank all our international guests who attended the 2018 event.'

This year hundreds of internationally-acclaimed guests along with well-known Iranian filmmakers, actors and actresses celebrated cultural exchanges, shared their experience and enjoyed watching movies from all over the world. Festival included many section such as 'Broken Olive Branches', 'Darolfonoun', 'Talent Campus', 'Magic Lantern', 'Salvation Cinema' and 'Eastern Vista'.

Festival guests were from the US, UK, Italy, Australia, Georgia, Palestine, Iraq, Russia, Japan, France, Korea, Spain, India, Turkey, Lebanon, Syria, and of many other nationalities.

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