On Tuesday, Salehi and the head of the Cinema Organization, Raed Faridzadeh, attended the 42nd Tehran International Short Film Festival, which is underway at Iran Mall Cinema Complex in the capital city.
Salehi said that the event has become a dream for young filmmakers, praising the public turnout for the latest edition of the festival.
He said the festival’s location is outside central Tehran, adding that despite this, the event has attracted a large audience.
He described the festival as a short-term dream for young creators.
That is why short films have now achieved a deserving status in the country, he said, calling the festival a blend of courage and creativity for young directors.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Salehi referenced a message sent by President Masoud Pezeshkian for the festival, underscoring the importance placed on the festival at the highest levels of administration.
The 42nd TISFF, directed by Behrooz Shoaibi and themed “Rationality and Intellectualism,” began on October 19, 2025, at the Iran Mall Cinema Complex, northern Tehran, and will last five days.
This year’s festival features selected fiction, animation, documentary, and experimental films from Iran and around the world.
Organized annually by the Iranian Youth Cinema Society (IYCS), a leading institution for cinema and short film production, the TISFF is officially recognized by the Academy Awards, making its Grand Prize winner eligible for Oscar consideration.
IRNA