A significant joint meeting between the heads of Iran’s Cinema Organization (ICO) and the Islamic Culture and Relations Organization was recently held to discuss expanding regional and international collaborations in cinema.
According to the Public Relations Office of the Cinema Organization, Khazaei highlighted the influential role of Iranian cinema in the world. "Iranian cinema is the most significant cultural achievement of the Islamic Republic abroad, and many nations recognize Iran through its cinematic contributions," he said. Despite this cultural success, Khazaei acknowledged the shortcomings in commercializing Iranian cinematic products.
Khazaei emphasized the importance of expanding international capacities and marketing cinematic products. He stated, "Public diplomacy is achieved through cultural channels, especially cinema. By leveraging cinema, we can strengthen and develop relationships between nations and cultures. For a better economy, cinema needs to engage in regional and international markets."
He revealed a new strategic plan targeting 35 countries, focusing on shared cultural, religious, and ideological values to foster international exchanges and collaborations. He stressed the need for robust international strategies to enhance cultural and economic benefits for Iranian cinema. The recent Iranian delegation's visit to Russia, which included multiple meetings with foreign ambassadors and cultural advisors, was mentioned as a step towards expanding interactions within the Caspian and Shanghai regions.
Acknowledging the limitations of the private sector in global markets, Khazaei called for enhanced inter-agency cooperation, particularly with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Islamic Culture and Relations Organization, to create necessary infrastructures and capacities. He also highlighted ongoing efforts to facilitate the screening of Iranian films through regional agreements.
Khazaei pointed out a critical issue: the lack of effective communication between cultural advisors and international film festival organizers, which has hindered Iran's participation in global festivals. Addressing this, he emphasized the need for redesigning the international cinema space, changing the marketing model, and understanding the capacities and tastes of target countries, especially within the region.
Seyyed Sadegh Mousavi, Director General of Festivals and International Collaborations, mentioned the absence of a common memorandum of understanding between the two organizations. However, he highlighted recent agreements with countries like Russia, Iraq, South Africa, Belarus, Portugal, Oman, Syria, Serbia, and Pakistan, expressing hope for tangible outcomes.
Hojatoleslam Mohammad Mehdi Imanipour praised Iranian cinema’s success in image-building over the past four decades but acknowledged its economic shortcomings. He stressed that the current drive towards the economic viability of Iranian cinema is built on past efforts that have made it recognizable worldwide. He insisted that economic growth naturally leads to cultural development and underscored the importance of joint international projects, as approved in the first session of the Supreme Cinema Council.
Hamid Mostafavi, Acting Director General of Cultural Exchanges and International Organizations, elaborated on the organization’s role in coordinating cultural activities abroad and highlighted cinema as a key component in cultural agreements. He suggested providing subtitled or dubbed films to cultural advisors to utilize during cultural weeks and film festivals.
In conclusion, the meeting resulted in signing a memorandum of understanding between the Cinema Organization and the Islamic Culture and Relations Organization. This agreement aims to manage policymaking, planning, interaction enhancement, and reduce redundant efforts while improving the quality and quantity of the international cinema industry. It includes provisions for content support, participation in film weeks and festivals, and increasing the market share of Iranian cinema products internationally, leveraging the capacities of both organizations. This agreement marks a new chapter in fostering extensive collaborations across diverse cultural domains.