Considering the importance and position of independent art in shaping the culture of societies and in helping human beings understand themselves — which is the prelude to understanding God and existence — it is clear that the position of the seventh art, cinema, as an art form where major arts intersect, holds special significance. Among these, short film, especially in today’s world where the pace of human life is constantly accelerating and the time available for this journey is becoming increasingly limited, if not the highest position, at least holds strategic importance.
Iran’s position as one of the world’s most important countries in short cinema does not need justification, and what is clear is that today Iranian short cinema not only contributes to cultural development but has sometimes taken responsibility for shaping the direction of world cinema.
Within the country, the current conditions and circumstances have led to a decline in support for independent short film and documentary filmmakers, and it seems that serious and new measures need to be taken to improve conditions and create fresh opportunities for independent filmmakers.
Iranian short film directors and documentary filmmakers have repeatedly shined on international stages and have demonstrated that they possess unique talent and capabilities. Therefore, the Independent Short Film Support Base considers it its duty, in line with its objectives — one of the most important being supporting these filmmakers — to design a program for securing financial resources, creating entrepreneurship opportunities, and reviving the cycle of production and distribution of valuable short films and documentaries in international arenas.
It is hoped that, with the help of those who place special importance and value on Iranian culture and art in any field, we will be able to create new opportunities for independent filmmakers.
The Approach Behind Creating the Fund:
This fund has been established to support the production and distribution of works by independent filmmakers and to create entrepreneurial opportunities for them.
This fund has been designed to utilize the reputation, experience, and popularity of volunteer and interested artists and veterans by collecting their personal gifts and valuable handwritten items and presenting them to the Independent Short Film Support Base, so that these items can be sold and the proceeds used to support independent short film and documentary filmmakers.
The gifts received, of any kind, will be presented through an exhibition or private gathering, under specific conditions, and sold to merchants, collectors, and interested individuals in order to promote independent short and documentary cinema in the country.
The funds obtained from selling these gifts will be used for producing and supporting independent short films and documentaries, holding educational courses, organizing festivals and film cultural weeks, artistic scholarships, and any other efforts aimed at the growth and development of Iranian independent short film and documentary filmmakers.
International Background of the Project:
This project is not a completely new or unprecedented idea. The use of this concept in other countries and societies has been implemented with the aim of supporting charitable causes, humanitarian activities, peace efforts, health initiatives, environmental protection, educational scholarships, discovering special talents, and other purposes.
However, what makes this project distinctive in this region and makes its method of implementation innovative is the effort of artists to support art itself — an action that, beyond cultural development, creates a professional practice that redefines the artistic community through cultural behavior without organizational or collective obligations.
In other words, without merely thinking about art or another artist, the artist culturally redefines culture through an artistic approach. The result of this behavior is the recreation of art through the lens of culture, and this legacy will remain lasting, eternal, non-proprietary, and continuous.
Indeed, independent art is the product of the cultural actions of committed artists for creating art and nurturing artists.
Main Goals of Establishing the Fund:
– Creating a culture of participation among artists, veterans, and others to support independent short film and documentary filmmakers.
– Creating entrepreneurial opportunities for independent filmmakers.
– Moving toward stable conditions for the production and distribution of short films and documentaries.
– Accelerating the production process of influential and valuable films.
– Creating parallel employment opportunities alongside short film production (screenwriting, sound recording, cinematography, and other fields simultaneously).
– Considering the talent and capabilities of short film and documentary filmmakers, continuous production will lead to discovering new talents and helping them flourish, which is certainly a valuable asset for the country.
– Producing and distributing independent short films and documentaries (with independence defined as choosing a moderate approach in creating a valuable artistic work without any political, factional, or partisan orientation, and purely as an artistic work committed to a humane, wise, and idealistic perspective) should be considered as a path for introducing Iran’s culture, civilization, and history. Undoubtedly, this is one of the best ways to present and introduce a true image of Iran to international communities. (One of the most important goals of this base is supporting independent filmmakers in producing films that present an accurate image of Iran to the global community.)
– Active and creative filmmakers in this field need stable conditions so they can continue working as filmmakers and demonstrate their abilities and talents.
Conditions for Donating a Gift to the Fund:
Any individual who has reputation, popularity, and a respected name in various artistic, cultural, sports, political, economic, or social fields — and whose gift would be considered valuable — may donate a gift to this fund.
Type of Gift:
The type of gift largely depends on the level of reputation and popularity of the individual. The more famous and popular a person is, the less financial value their gift may need to have, as its symbolic value becomes more important.
Unveiling of the Fund:
The unveiling of this fund took place during the closing ceremony of the Third Khorshid Independent Short Film Festival, and it was announced through the reading of a statement.
During this ceremony, Shahrzad Asfarjani, a planner, instructor, brand strategist, and advertising consultant for the festival secretary, referred to the idea designed and planned by the Independent Short Film Support Base, with her consultation, regarding support for independent short film and documentary filmmakers.
She said: “We have designed the Independent Short Film and Documentary Filmmakers Support Fund so that renowned artists of the country can support these filmmakers and the organization of this festival by donating meaningful personal gifts to this fund.”
She continued: “Dear filmmakers, it is our duty to remain in this country, make efforts, build our country as Iran deserves, and introduce it to the international community.”
Later in the ceremony, Mehdi Yarmohammadi, secretary of the festival, stated that it is our duty as cultural ambassadors of this country to present a clear, accurate, and hopeful image of our country to the international community. He thanked the first donors of these gifts to the Independent Short Film and Documentary Filmmakers Support Fund by presenting them with certificates of appreciation, and expressed hope that other artists would support these active, creative, and talented filmmakers in order to help the growth and expansion of independent filmmaking.
Mehdi Yarmohammadi named Bijan Kamkar, Gheshang Kamkar, Rahbar Ghanbari, Babak Karimi, Maryam Doosti, Seyed Ali Salehi, Yekta Naser, Shahrzad Asfarjani, and himself as the first donors of gifts to this fund, and added that these gifts would be displayed and offered for sale in an exhibition attended by the donors. The proceeds would be used to support independent short film and documentary filmmakers, especially the selected filmmakers of the Khorshid Festival.
