The opening of the 18th International Resistance Film Festival will begin on May 17, 1404. This festival, which has been known for years as one of the most important cinematic events in the field of resistance, will reach its peak this year with a special closing on June 3, coinciding with the anniversary of the liberation of Khorramshahr.

In an interview, Dr. Jalal Ghaffari, Secretary of the 18th International Resistance Film Festival, announced that the closing of the Resistance Film Festival will be held every year on June 3; he considered the reason for choosing this date to be more than an executive decision and considered it the point of intersection of resistance cinema with one of the most important periods in Iran’s contemporary history.

Emphasizing that this festival is not only a place to showcase cinematic works, but also an arena for narrating the Iranian nation’s resistance through the seventh art, he added: “The 3rd of Khordad is not just a date on the calendar; it is a symbol of breaking the siege, overcoming obstacles, and achieving victory. Choosing this day for the festival’s closing ceremony emphasizes that resistance cinema, like Khorramshahr, can also break through the siege of censorship and dominant media trends and bring the voice of truth to the ears of the world.”

Referring to the importance of the international dimension of this event, the Secretary of the International Resistance Film Festival said: Resistance cinema reflects freedom-loving and anti-arrogance ideals not only within the country, but also globally. Over the past years, this festival has been able to establish its position among committed and concerned filmmakers and be a platform for interaction and synergy among artists in the field of resistance around the world.

According to him, this year’s festival is trying to take resistance cinema beyond geographical borders with a new perspective and turn it into an effective tool in cultural and media diplomacy.

Dr. Ghafari continued by stating that the International Resistance Film Festival will be held annually thereafter, and added: The Resistance Film Festival has become one of the most important cinema events in the region in the field of resistance and justice-seeking in recent years, and this period, with a broader approach and a deeper look at regional and global developments, is trying to convey the message of resistance, justice-seeking, and truth-seeking to the world through cinema.

Finally, he stated that the permanent secretariat of the festival will begin its work this year, adding: The details of the programs for this period will be announced soon.