TEHRAN (Iran News) –The curtains have fallen on the 42nd Fajr International Theater Festival, with a closing ceremony held at Tehran’s Vahdat Hall on Thursday.

The ceremony was graced by the presence of Mohammad-Mehdi Esmaeili, the Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, along with a number of stage artists and cultural officials.

The event served as a platform for unveiling the winners of the competitive categories in both stage and street performances.

The play titled “Futile” was crowned best play in the Iranian Theater Competition section of the festival, while Yasin Rezvani was awarded the best playwright award for his work on the play.

Kurosh Shahuneh received the best director award for his contribution to the play “Hidden,” while Reyhaneh Razi was honored with the best actress award for her performance in the same production.

Javad Yahyavi claimed the best actor award for his portrayal in the play “T” directed by Majid Rahmati.

Reflecting on the festival’s success, Minister Esmaeili expressed his contentment with the grandeur and splendor that marked the 42nd edition. He also acknowledged the significant role that regional festivals played in fostering a warm atmosphere and promoting the growth and excellence of theater.

“We extend our gratitude to all the organizations involved for their unwavering commitment to keeping the theatrical flame alive despite the numerous challenges. Cultural justice has perpetually been at the forefront of our focus, and we are profoundly pleased to see participants from different parts of the country attending the festival,” stated culture minister in his speech.

Highlighting the significance and influence of theater within the performing arts, he emphasized its crucial role in society.

Moreover, he extended special thanks to Iranian theater artists who showcased solidarity with the Gaza section of the Fajr Theater Festival. He shed light on the tragic events that took place in Gaza, where innocent women and children lost their lives before the eyes of the world. He emphasized the imperative need for global conscience to speak out against such heinous crimes.

The 42nd Fajr International Theater Festival commenced on January 21st in Tehran, featuring a captivating lineup of six Iranian plays in the stage section.

The festival’s stage shows were held at various venues, including Vahdat Hall, City Theater Complex, Sangelaj Hall, Molvi Theater, Hafez Hall, Art Hall, Mehrab Theater Complex, and Iranshahr Hall.

Last week, the secretary of the festival announced that this edition of the event has a special section dedicated to Gaza, where nine plays on this issue are being performed.

Gaza section is one of the five new sections added to the festival this year. “In total, the festival will have 12 sections,” Mehdi Hamedsaqayan said.

“Due to the crimes of the Zionist regime in Gaza, we issued a call for plays in support of the Palestinians. We received several street and stage performances on this subject, and finally, nine works were selected to be performed at the festival,” he added.

According to the secretary, “hope, cheerfulness, and empathy” is the motto he has chosen for this year’s festival.

“A total of eight plays from Armenia, Greece, Tajikistan, Iraq, and Italy will take part in the international section,” Hamedsaqayan noted.

“The festival secretariat received about 1,650 works this year. There will be 34 plays in the Iranian Theater Competition. Moreover, 33, 25, and 11 plays will compete in the student, street, and radio theater sections respectively.”

Speaking about other sections, he said that the national identity section deals with martyrs and national heroes such as Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani and poet Malik Al-Shu’ara Bahar. There will also be 21 plays competing in the inclusive section with the help of the Welfare Organization and dedicated to people with disabilities, he stated.

Last year’s festival featured an extraordinary lineup of ten international troupes taking the stage.

Iraqi director Mohammad Moayyed’s troupe performed “Mercy Shot”, while another Iraqi troupe with director Javad Asadi took “Amal” on stage.

“Amal” was the big winner of the 41st Fajr International Theater Festival by garnering awards in three categories, including best director and best play.

Written and directed by Jawad Al-Assadi, the play focuses on the hardship of wartime and the question arises whether it is right to invite someone else into this world under these conditions.

The play also brought Haider Juma the award for best actor, while set designer Ali Al-Sudani and actress Rizab Ahmad Hassan Al-Karkhi won honorable mentions for their collaboration in this production.

Spanish director Txema Munoz staged “Lumiere” (“Light”), and Hafiz Khalifa from Tunisia directed a stage adaptation of Italian poet Dante Alighieri’s “The Divine Comedy”.

Omani director Yousuf Al-Bulushi competed at the festival with “Henna Pestle”, and Jordanian director Ayad Al-Rimoni participated at the festival with “Naqoura Train”.

Armenian director Ara Yernjakyan, the founder and artistic director of the Yerevan State Chamber Theater, staged William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet”, while Russian writer Nikolay Mikhaylovich Karamzin’s 1792 story “Bednaya Liza” (“Poor Liza”), was directed by his renowned compatriot Mark Rozovsky.

“Apatridas” (“Stateless”), a multimedia play divided into two monologues written by Carina Casuscelli was staged by Brazilian director Lenerson Polonini.

An adaptation of Nikolay Gogol’s short story “The Overcoat” (“Shinel”) was also staged by a Russian troupe.

Photo: Iranian actor Javad Yahyavi holds his award at the closing ceremony of the 42nd Fajr International Theater Festival in Tehran’s Vahdat Hall on February 1, 2024.