Study on the Viewpoint of Cinema Experts and Authorities about Fajr Movie Festival

The 28th Fajr International Movie Festival was held in the first half of Bahman (5-15) 1388 (February 2010). In this study, the viewpoints of 32 cinema experts and authorities (writer, director, producer, actor and actress, critic, composer, etc) are collected through specialized interviews. The interviews which were conducted in Bahman 12th and 13th 1388 in the festival hall (Milad Tower) had interesting results. After holding 28 festivals, cinema authorities consider the following advantages for Fajr Movie Festival: Creation of a competitive atmosphere for filmmakers and motivating other filmmakers to make higher quality movies; Identifying weaknesses of the movies and correcting them before public show; Identifying works and subjects more attractive to audiences and critics of Iranian cinema; An annual opportunity for interaction and exchanging views on the developments of Iranian cinema.Most cinema experts believe that although organizing festival and providing its expenses is done by the government, a realistic look confirms that organizing festival by government at present time can be beneficial; this is while presence of a permanent independent organization or an academy for the festival can open up a new horizon for Iranian Cinema.Most cinema experts of the country believe that getting award by a movie in the festival brings credit to the movie and its producers. This is even stronger in the case of young movie producers and actors or actresses and has a great effect on their popularity among people and cinema experts. Most interviewed experts evaluate the effect of Fajr movie festival on the credit and position of Iranian cinema at international level positive but trivial. From the viewpoint of cinema experts, the trend of festival during past 28 years has been growing and improving, although due rapid change of cinema authorirties in various years it was very different with many ups and downs.