Fajr International Film Festival

Overview

The Fajr International Film Festival is Iran's most important film event and the primary platform for Iranian cinema. Founded in 1982 and organized by the Farabi Cinema Foundation under the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, the festival runs annually in February in Tehran, timed to coincide with the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The 44th edition is scheduled for February 1 to 12, 2026.

The festival has two main layers: a national competition for Iranian cinema (Soday-e Simorgh) and an international competition open to filmmakers worldwide. The national section shortlists 22 Iranian films for the Crystal Simorgh awards, the highest honors in Iranian cinema. The international section awards Golden and Silver Simorgh prizes with cash amounts denominated in Iranian rials.

Iran has one of the world's most artistically distinguished film traditions. Directors including Abbas Kiarostami, Mohsen Makhmalbaf, Jafar Panahi, and Asghar Farhadi have won major prizes at Cannes, Venice, Berlin, and other leading festivals. Two-time Oscar winner Asghar Farhadi (A Separation, 2011; The Salesman, 2016) is part of this tradition. Fajr is where Iranian cinema celebrates its own achievements and where international filmmakers can access the Iranian film industry.

The festival operates within Iran's regulatory framework for cinema. All submitted films must comply with the regulations of the Iranian Cinema Organization. International filmmakers should research current Iranian cultural regulations before submitting, as content restrictions apply and films that violate Iranian media standards will not be programmed.

Submission Details

Fajr accepts international submissions through its official website and FilmFreeway. Key details for the international section:

All films must be submitted by the producer or legal international distributor. Once a film is selected, it cannot be withdrawn from the festival program. The Festival Director selects and officially invites films to participate.

Premiere Status Requirements

Submitted films must have at minimum an Iran premiere at the festival. World and international premieres receive priority in selection. International films that have already premiered in the Middle East, Central Asia, Caucasia, or Anatolia (with the exception of the country of origin) are not eligible for the International Competition section. Iranian films that have had a theatrical release or international festival screening are not eligible for the International Competition or Eastern Vista sections.

Competition Sections

• International Competition - feature films (fiction, documentary, animation) of at least 70 minutes, competing for Golden and Silver Simorgh awards. Films from any country are eligible subject to premiere requirements
• Eastern Vista - films from Asian and Islamic countries, competing for separate Golden and Silver Simorgh awards. This section is the festival's primary window for cinema from the Islamic world and broader Asian region
• First Film Award - a separate award for best first feature film, awarded to the director
• Festival of Festivals - non-competitive section screening films selected from other major international festivals
• Docs in Focus - non-competitive documentary section
• Retrospectives and Special Screenings - tributes to national cinemas, renowned filmmakers, and restored classics

The national section (Iranian Cinema Competition, Soday-e Simorgh) is a separate competition for Iranian films. For the 44th edition, 22 films will be shortlisted for final jury consideration, with awards spanning Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay (Adapted and Original), and acting categories. Films in the national competition must not have been screened in domestic cinemas, streaming platforms, or international festivals. Minimum runtime is 75 minutes.

Awards and Prizes

International Competition

• Golden Simorgh for Best Film - 800,000,000 IRR cash prize (jointly to producer and director)
• Silver Simorgh for Best Director - 400,000,000 IRR
• Silver Simorgh for Best Script - 300,000,000 IRR
• Silver Simorgh for Best Actress
• Silver Simorgh for Best Actor
• Silver Simorgh for Best Short Film - 100,000,000 IRR (awarded to director)
• Crystal Simorgh for Outstanding Artistic Contribution - camera, editing, music, costume, or set design
• Special Jury Award

Eastern Vista (Asian and Islamic Countries)

• Golden Simorgh for Best Feature Film - 600,000,000 IRR (jointly to producer and director)
• Silver Simorgh for Best Feature Film Director - 300,000,000 IRR
• Silver Simorgh for Best Feature Film Script - 150,000,000 IRR
• Silver Simorgh for Special Jury Prize - outstanding artistic contribution
• Silver Simorgh for Best Short Film - 100,000,000 IRR (awarded to director)

Additional Awards

• First Film Award - trophy plus 150,000,000 IRR (awarded to director)
• National Perspective Simorgh - for works of cultural and moral resonance (national section)
• Audience Choice Award (national section)

In the International Competition, the jury's prize list cannot contain joint awards and no film can receive more than two awards. In the Eastern Vista section, no film can receive more than one award. All cash prizes are denominated in Iranian rials (IRR) and are subject to applicable regulations.

Festival History

Fajr was founded in 1982, three years after the Islamic Revolution, as part of the new cultural infrastructure of the Islamic Republic. The festival was created to celebrate Iranian cinema and provide a bridge between film communities from East and West. Over four decades, it has been the home of one of the world's most distinguished national cinema traditions.

The festival's history reflects the evolution of Iranian cinema itself. During the 1980s and 1990s, Iranian cinema gained international recognition through directors like Kiarostami and Makhmalbaf, whose films won prizes at Cannes and Venice. The festival provided a domestic platform for this cinema while also bringing international films to Iranian audiences.

In recent years, the festival has maintained its focus on Iranian cinema through the national Soday-e Simorgh competition while operating an international section that attracts submissions from Asia, the Islamic world, and beyond. The Eastern Vista section specifically programs films from Asian and Islamic countries, creating a unique competitive space that no other major festival replicates.

The 44th edition in 2026 includes short fiction films curated from the 42nd Tehran International Short Film Festival and feature documentaries drawn from the 19th Cinema Verite International Festival, integrating Iran's broader festival ecosystem into Fajr's programming.

What Filmmakers Should Know

For International Filmmakers

Fajr is one of the few major festivals that provides direct access to the Iranian film market. Iran has a substantial domestic cinema audience and its own distribution infrastructure, which operates largely outside the Western festival and distribution ecosystem. A selection at Fajr can place your film in front of Iranian distributors and audiences that no other festival can reach.

The submission process is free, which is unusual for a festival of this scale. However, the content restrictions are real and specific. Films with content that violates Iranian cultural regulations (including depictions of sexual content, alcohol consumption, or content deemed critical of Islamic values) will not be programmed. Research the regulatory framework before submitting to avoid wasting time on an ineligible film.

The Eastern Vista section is particularly relevant for filmmakers from Asian and Islamic countries. The Golden Simorgh for Best Feature Film in this section carries a 600,000,000 IRR cash prize, and the section has a distinct jury and competition structure separate from the main International Competition.

For Iranian Filmmakers

The national Soday-e Simorgh competition is the most important domestic award in Iranian cinema. The Crystal Simorgh is the equivalent of an Academy Award within Iran. Films must not have been screened in domestic cinemas, on streaming platforms, or at international festivals to be eligible. Participation in other national festivals is permitted. The 44th edition shortlists 22 films for competition.

Practical Considerations

The festival does not charge submission fees, but travel to Tehran requires visa arrangements that can take several weeks. International filmmakers whose films are selected should begin visa procedures immediately upon notification. The festival covers accommodation for invited guests, but filmmakers should confirm current arrangements with the festival office.

Cash prizes are paid in Iranian rials. International recipients should be aware that currency conversion and transfer regulations may affect the practical value of cash prizes. The 800,000,000 IRR Golden Simorgh prize is worth approximately $1,300 USD at current official exchange rates, though the practical value may differ.

The festival does not have an attached film market in the traditional sense (like Marche du Film or EFM). Its industry value is in access to Iranian distributors, the national cinema community, and the Eastern Vista network of Asian and Islamic cinema.

Past Winners

The Fajr Film Festival awards Crystal Simorgh prizes in its national competition (Soday-e Simorgh) and Golden Simorgh prizes in its international competition. Recent winners:

• 2025 (43rd edition): The Crystal Simorgh for Best Film in the national competition went to Call Me Ziba (prod. Seyed Maziar Hashemi). Best Director went to Hamid Zargarnejad for North by Southwest. Best Actor went to Mostafa Zamani for North by Southwest, and Best Actress went to Fariba Naderi for Setareh's Husband. The festival concluded on February 11, 2025, at the Milad Tower Conference Hall in Tehran. The audience award for Best Film was shared by Dolphin Boy 2 and The Devotee.
• 2024 (42nd edition): The Crystal Simorgh for Best Film in the national competition went to Majnoon (dir. Mohammad Reza Varzi), a wartime drama about Martyr Major General Mahdi Zeinoddin. In the international section (Cinema Salvation), the Crystal Simorgh for Best Film went to Blaga's Lessons (dir. Stephan Komandarev, Bulgaria), a drama about a widowed teacher defrauded by telephone scammers. The international section also awarded The Best Century of My Life (dir. Alessandro Bardani, Italy) the Crystal Simorgh for Best Script.
• 2023 (41st edition): The Crystal Simorgh for Best Film in the national competition went to Metropol Cinema (dir. Mohammad Ali Basheh Ahangar), a drama about a wartime theater in Abadan. In the international competition, the Crystal Simorgh for Best Film went to Mud Room (dir. Mohammad Asgari). In the Eastern Vista section, the Crystal Simorgh for Best Film went to Harvest Moon (dir. Amarsalkhan Baljinnyam, Mongolia), and The Winter Within (dir. Aamir Bashir, India/France/Qatar) also received recognition.

The national competition shortlists 22 Iranian films for the Crystal Simorgh awards, which are the highest honors in Iranian cinema. The international competition awards Golden and Silver Simorgh prizes with cash amounts in Iranian rials.

Notable Alumni

Fajr has been the domestic launching pad for many Iranian filmmakers who achieved major international recognition:

• Asghar Farhadi is the most internationally successful Iranian director, with two Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film (A Separation, 2011; The Salesman, 2016). A Separation premiered at the 29th Fajr International Film Festival on February 9, 2011, before going on to win the Golden Bear at Berlin and the Oscar. About Elly (2009) won the Crystal Simorgh for Best Directing at Fajr while simultaneously winning the Silver Bear for Best Director at Berlin. Farhadi also won the Grand Prix at Cannes for A Hero (2021).
• Abbas Kiarostami (1940-2016) was one of Iran's most celebrated directors. His films won the Palme d'Or at Cannes for Taste of Cherry (1997). While Kiarostami's relationship with Fajr was complex due to his independent production model, his work was featured at the festival and he remains a foundational figure in Iranian cinema that Fajr celebrates.
• Mohsen Makhmalbaf is part of the generation of Iranian directors whose work was featured at Fajr. He won awards at Cannes and other major festivals. His daughter Samira Makhmalbaf became one of the youngest directors to compete at Cannes.
• Jafar Panahi won the Golden Bear at Berlin for Taxi Tehran (2015) and the Camera d'Or at Cannes for The White Balloon (1995). His films have been part of the Iranian cinema tradition that Fajr represents, though his relationship with Iranian authorities has been contentious.
• Stephan Komandarev (Bulgaria) won the Crystal Simorgh for Best Film in the international section for Blaga's Lessons (2024), demonstrating that Fajr's international competition can also serve as a platform for non-Iranian filmmakers seeking recognition in the Middle East and Asian markets.

Submission Tips

1. International submissions are free. Fajr does not charge a submission fee, which is unusual for a festival of this scale. Submit through the festival website or FilmFreeway.
2. Check content compliance before submitting. All films must comply with Iranian Cinema Organization regulations. Films with sexual content, alcohol consumption, or content deemed critical of Islamic values will not be programmed. Research the regulatory framework to avoid wasting time on an ineligible film.
3. Target the Eastern Vista section if you are from an Asian or Islamic country. This section has a separate jury and competition structure, with the Golden Simorgh for Best Feature Film carrying 600,000,000 IRR. It is less competitive than the main International Competition.
4. Ensure your film has an Iran premiere. Submitted films must have at minimum an Iran premiere. World and international premieres receive priority. Films that have already premiered in the Middle East, Central Asia, Caucasia, or Anatolia (excluding the country of origin) are not eligible for the International Competition.
5. Submit by the producer or legal distributor. Only the legal rights holder may submit. Once a film is selected, it cannot be withdrawn from the festival program.
6. Prepare English subtitles. All international submissions must have English subtitles. Accepted screening formats include non-encrypted DCP, Apple ProRes 4444, Full HD file, or Blu-ray backup.
7. Begin visa procedures immediately upon selection. Travel to Tehran requires visa arrangements that can take several weeks. The festival covers accommodation for invited guests, but confirm current arrangements with the festival office.

Industry Reputation

Fajr is Iran's most important film event and the primary platform for Iranian cinema. It is not FIAPF-accredited, which limits its standing in the international festival hierarchy compared to FIAPF-accredited events. However, within the Middle East and the Islamic world, it is one of the most significant film festivals.

The festival's industry value is primarily in access to the Iranian film market. Iran has a substantial domestic cinema audience and its own distribution infrastructure that operates largely outside the Western festival and distribution ecosystem. A selection at Fajr can place a film in front of Iranian distributors and audiences that no other festival can reach.

The festival does not have an attached film market in the traditional sense (like Marche du Film or EFM). Its industry value is in access to Iranian distributors, the national cinema community, and the Eastern Vista network of Asian and Islamic cinema.

The festival is not Oscar-qualifying. However, the Tehran International Short Film Festival, a separate event integrated into Fajr's programming, is an Academy Award-qualifying short film festival. Short filmmakers who win at the Tehran International Short Film Festival may qualify for Oscar consideration.

Cash prizes are paid in Iranian rials, and international recipients should be aware that currency conversion and transfer regulations may affect the practical value of prizes. The 800,000,000 IRR Golden Simorgh prize is worth approximately $1,300 USD at current official exchange rates.

Watch

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Trailer for A Separation (dir. Asghar Farhadi), which premiered at the 29th Fajr International Film Festival in February 2011 before winning the Golden Bear at Berlin and the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Farhadi is part of the Iranian cinema tradition that Fajr celebrates, and his earlier film About Elly won the Crystal Simorgh for Best Directing at the festival.

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Trailer for My Stolen Planet (dir. Farahnaz Sharifi), which screened in the Berlinale Panorama program in 2024. Iranian documentaries and features that gain international festival recognition often have connections to the Fajr festival ecosystem, which serves as Iran's primary domestic platform for cinema.

See Also

Calculate your total festival submission costs and projected return using the Festival ROI Calculator. For Iranian and Middle Eastern cinema distribution, see International Film Markets. For festival circuit planning and premiere strategy, see Film Festival Strategy. For the Tehran International Short Film Festival, an Academy Award qualifying short film festival, see Tehran International Short Film Festival. Submit through the Fajr International Film Festival website or FilmFreeway.