International Documentary Filmmakers Forum after the Martyrdom of the President

The foreign documentary filmmakers present at the Sobh International Media Event, referring to the activities of Ayatollah Raisi and sympathizing with the Iranian people, stated that Iran continues to project power on the world.

According to the festival’s news headquarters, the documentary forum of the Sobh International Media Festival took place yesterday at the Mellat Complex. The event was attended by a group of documentary filmmakers including American filmmaker Igor Lopatonok, Irish filmmaker Sean Murray, Lebanese documentary filmmaker Radwan Mortada, documentary filmmaker Hassan Yadegari, and the meeting’s moderator Bahman Nouraei.

In this meeting, Radwan Mortada emphasized the importance of including a historical perspective in the documentary by stating, “When you want to create something, you must first read numerous articles to gather sufficient content and information.”

Igor Lopatonok then stated, “When you work with great men in documentaries or any other field, you gain valuable experiences.” I had the opportunity to create a documentary in Ukraine, and it was a valuable experience for me. Some say you aim to document abuses in war, but it is not the case.

Sean Murray also mentioned the challenges of working in the documentary field: “It becomes difficult to work in an environment filled with tension when you aim to amplify the voices of the voiceless through film and media.”

He added, “We must take care not to lose our line of approach when there are militia forces, and you should not allow them to disrupt your work process. There are many filmmakers in Ireland who experience significant pressure.”

In this meeting, Cohen discussed documenting in different countries. He mentioned that America restricts freedom and encourages the actions of Zionists. He also criticized media outlets like Fox News for portraying blackness based on these interests.

He also commented on the documentary about Gaza: “The crisis in Gaza is not something that happened today and yesterday, the Zionists have been perpetrating killings for several years. The Zionists use famine and any incident as a weapon against the Palestinians, and it should be explored how this can be portrayed in the documentary.”

Hassan Yadegari further emphasized the financial aspect and stated, “When you make a documentary film, you must be supported by financial resources and then create something that has economic value.”

He talked about his experience at the Qatar World Cup, saying, “We had plans for how our team’s documentary should succeed in this space, how it could progress or fail, and how we should adjust our approach to the documentary.” One thing to keep in mind is that you should have a clear goal in mind and not let external factors influence you. You should do your own research and check the indicators. Research is an essential component of documentation.

Mortada further pointed out Iran’s cinema locations and stated, “I was able to go to the Iran Cinema and Television Town today and what a great town you have in Tehran.”

He mentioned the trump card of documentaries: “I think the filmmaker should be an encyclopedia or have a wide range of information.”

Lopatonok further explained his approach to the documentary economy: “I have made a lot of films, and this is how I run my business. I am familiar with how this industry operates and its limitations, so these constraints did not deter me.

Murray mentioned that creating documentaries in the UAE and Saudi Arabia posed challenges due to their alliance with Israel. However, they believed that the Iranian media could help convey their story to produce documentaries in these countries. We explored social networks and attempted to unite them.

During the question and answer session of the meeting, Mortada commented on the audit of platforms and the West, stating, “When you search for Sardar Soleimani on YouTube, it either informs you that his name cannot be found, issues a warning, or removes it from the service, which constitutes a form of censorship.”

Lopatonok also mentioned the Zionists and their utilization of tools for personal gain, stating that, “Israelis excel in electronic warfare.”

He added, “However, I believe in the strong will and determination of the Iranian people. The Iranian people have always shown strength in the face of all conspiracies. Some false narratives should be avoided.”

Referring to the martyrdom of the President, Cohen said, “I offer my condolences to all the families; this is not a failure for revolutionary Iran. Raisi was very diligent; however, Iran’s ideology has never been dependent on individuals and can continue on its way. I believe that Iran can still project power with its clear vision.”

The 2nd Sobh International Media Festival, with Mohsen Yazdi as the festival director, started on May 19 in three sections: “Main,” “IRIB World Service,” and “Palestine Special” with the screening of documentary, animation and short film works, along with the holding of professional workshops on the topic of media.