Better known as Cinema Haqiqat, the festival opens on Wednesday at the Mellat Cinplex in Tehran and will run from December 10-16, 2025.

The prestigious event showcases a diverse array of documentary films from across the globe, highlighting various social, political, and cultural issues.

Participants include filmmakers from various countries such as Palestine, Lebanon, Russia, the US, the UK, France, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, Italy, Australia, Poland, Ireland, Colombia, Austria, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Egypt, Belgium, Turkey, Serbia, Greece, Jordan, Qatar, Tunisia, Indonesia, and Morocco.

This extensive international presence underscores the festival's role as a vital platform for global documentary cinema.

Among the notable sections of the festival is the competition dedicated to the Palestinian cause, featuring films such as The Wish, Gaza to OSCAR, Colors under the Sky, and Very Small Dreams.

The films aim to shed light on the ongoing struggles and aspirations of the Palestinian people.

This year's festival has dedicated a special section to Iran to highlight the Israeli-imposed war against Iran that occurred in mid-June, offering a platform to discuss recent regional conflicts through documentary storytelling.

The event also features the 16th Martyr Avini Award, honoring excellence in documentary filmmaking and promoting the legacy of the late Iranian filmmaker and thinker.