Set in the heart of Iran’s capital city, Tehran, Fajr International Film Festival pays tribute to quality national and international films. It is an event that celebrates cultural exchange, displays creative achievements of highly acclaimed cineastes and newcomers, and showcases films promoting artistic contribution to the medium. Moreover, the festival also pays special attention to films that seek justice, and highlight humane and moral values.

The festival focuses especially on films from the Middle East, Central Asia, Caucasus, and Anatolia as well as works heralding peace and friendship as true teachings of the holy prophets.
Moreover, Fajr International Film Festival provides a unique platform in this geographic region for an interchange of professional experience and international meetings. In addition, intensive training courses are being offered to young filmmakers if possible.
Meanwhile, the International Film Market, better known as IFM, provides an excellent opportunity for the acquisition and sales of film rights, co-production projects and offers support for the production and screening of new Iranian films. In this edition, the market will be formed as an online event.
After the cancellation of the festival in 2020 due to the outbreak of COVID-19, the 38th edition of the Fajr International Film Festival is scheduled to be held from May 26th to June 2nd, 2021 in Tehran, under the directorship of Iranian filmmaker, Mohammad Mehdi Asgarpour.
The FIff 2021 films – Official Selection will be screened physically.

Awards & Prizes

Article 8 – Official Awards

The winners of the official awards will be announced in the Closing Ceremony of the festival.

International Competition:

Golden Simorgh for Best Film(awarded to the film director) + 800.000.000 IRR Cash Prize (jointly to producer and director)
Silver Simorgh for Best Director + 400.000.000 IRR Cash Prize
Silver Simorgh for Best Script + 300.000.000 IRR Cash Prize
Silver Simorgh for Best Actress
Silver Simorgh for Best Actor
In the decision of International Jury, the prize list must not contain joint awards and no film can receive more than two awards.
Silver Simorgh for Best Short Film + 100.000.000 IRR Cash Prize (awarded to the film director)
Eastern Vista Awards:
Golden Simorgh for Best Feature Film (awarded to the film director) + 600.000.000 IRR Cash Prize (jointly to producer and director)
Silver Simorgh for Best Feature Film Director + 300.000.000 IRR Cash Prize
Silver Simorgh for Best Feature Film Script + 150.000.000 IRR Cash Prize
Silver Simorgh for Special Jury Prize for Outstanding Artistic Contribution in a Feature Film in the categories of camera, editing, music score, costume or scene design
Silver Simorgh for Best Short Film + 100.000.000 IRR Cash Prize (awarded to the film director)
Note:In the verdict of Eastern Vista Jury, the prize list must not contain joint awards and no film can receive more than one award.
First Film Award:
Trophy for Best First Feature Film + 150.000.000 IRR Cash Prize (awarded to the film director)

Article 9 – Parallel Awards

The winners of the parallel awards will be announced in a special ceremony.

MUHAMMAD AL-AMEEN AWARD
Trophy + Diploma of Honor + 300.000.000 IRR Cash Prize (awarded to the film director) for Reflection of Prophetic Ethics and Morality (for one of the films from the main sections of the festival):
Inter-Faith Award (for Director)
NETPAC Prize (for Director)
(NETPAC stands for “Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema”)

International Film Critics Diploma of Honor to One Film in Eastern Vista section (for Director)
Note: The payment of Cash Prizes will be based on the currency rates available during the festival period.

Rules & Terms

Article 2 – Eligibility and Formats

World premiere films and international premiere films are of higher priority respectively.
Accepted formats: Non-encrypted DCP, Apple ProRes 4444 or Full HD File (plus a Blu-ray backup) with English subtitles.
Year of completion (for Competitive Sections): 2020-2021
Year of Completion for Special Screenings, Popular Genre Films, and Docs in Focus:2019-2021

Eligible films for main sections:
Feature films (fiction, documentary, animation) of at least 70 minutes running time, intended for theatrical release.
Short films (fiction, documentary, animation) of at most 15 minutes running time.
All films have to be registered through the online film entry.
The submission form must be completed by the producer or international distributor of the film who shall from now on be called submitter. In case of theatrical release or any international screenings, Iranian films will not be eligible to enter International Competition and Eastern Vista sections of the festival.
International films, already premiered in the Middle East, Central Asia, Caucasia and Anatolia (with the exception of the country of origin), will not be selected for the International Competition section.
In case of submission in previous editions, the film is not eligible to be submitted again.

Article 3 – Selection Process and Programming

The Festival Director selects and officially invites films to participate in the festival.
The Festival Director might use the consultation and recommendations of filmmakers and film experts for the selection and invitation of the films and guests.
All international films submitted for the festival may be considered for all sections.
The duly completed online entry form with tracking code as well as the previewing versions for selection must reach the Festival Office through the website before the assigned deadline (March 15th, 2021). All forms must be signed by the producer.
The eligible formats for previewing and selection purposes are downloadable links, DVDs or blu-rays.
Once a film has been selected, it cannot be withdrawn from the Festival programme.

Article 4 – Programmes

Festival sections include:
Competitive Sections:

International Competition
Eastern Vista (Films from Asian and Islamic Countries)
Non-Competitive Sections:
Festival of Festivals
Docs in Focus
Parallel Sections:
Special Screenings
Popular Genre Films
Olive Branches (a window to the changes in the world of Islam today)
Retrospective of National Cinemas / Renowned Cineastes
Restored Classics
Special Events:
Student Lab (in Universities)
Workshops and Seminars
Tributes
Note: Considering the current situation, Darolfonoun (Talent Campus for Iranian, Iranian Plateau and World Young Filmmakers) will not be held in this edition of the festival.

Article 5 – International Competition

There will be at most 15 feature films and 15 short films for inclusion in this section.
No more than 3 Iranian feature films and 3 Iranian short films will be included in International Competition.

Article 6 – Eastern Vista

There will be at most 10 feature films and 10 short films for inclusion in this section.
No more than 2 Iranian feature films and 2 Iranian short films will be included in Eastern Vista.

Article 7- Juries

International Jury:
The Festival Director will appoint at least five jury members amongst international cineaste and film experts for the International Jury Awards.
Eastern Vista Jury:
The Festival Director will appoint at least three jury members amongst international cineaste and film experts for the Eastern Vista Awards.
First Film Jury:
The Festival Director will appoint at least three jury members amongst international cineaste and film experts for the First Film Jury. A selection of first feature films produced in 2020-21 in different sections of the festival will be nominated for this award.
At least 5 first feature films should be nominated for this award.

Note:Individuals who have direct bonds with the production or exploitation of a film are not to be on the Jury.

Article 10 – Documentation

Complete documentation for each selected film is to be made available to the film department as required. All the needed documents are mentioned in the online film entry

Article 11 – Film Copies

The physical previewing copies will be returned only if the submitter or his representative refers to the festival office in person in the period of June 8th to 16th, 2021. All the physical previewing copies will be destroyed after the mentioned date.
In case no written letter is received from the submitter, one copy of each film in the FIff 2021 – Official Selection will be preserved in the Festival Library only for research and study purposes.

Article 12 – Final Decisions in Unpredictable Conditions

In unpredictable conditions, especially considering the current pandemic situation, the right of making any final decision is preserved for the Festival Director. In this case, if necessary, the new arrangements will be made with the submitters.

Article 13- Acceptance of Terms and Conditions

The Festival Director will settle any case that might arise unexpectedly.
Participation in the Festival implies acceptance of all the aforementioned rules & regulations.

Article 10 – Key Dates

Online Submission Opening Date: February 15th, 2021
Online Submission Closing Date: March 15th, 2021
Deadline for Receipt of the Previewing Materials: March 17th, 2021
Festival Dates: May 26th to June 2nd, 2021

Fajr International Film Festival

Address: No. 2454, Vali Asr Ave., Tavanir District, TEHRAN, IRAN

Postal Code: 1434843631

Tel: (Programming and International Relations Depts. – Direct line) +98 21 88798256 / (Festival Office) +98 21 88194257 / 88194253 / 88194248

E-mail (for all submissions except Iranian productions): prog@fajriff.com

Website: www.fajriff.com/en