Policy Council Appointed for the 15th International 100‑Second Film Festival

Accordingly, Hamidreza Jafarian has been appointed as Chairman of the Policy Council, Mohaddeseh Pirhadi as Secretary of the Council, and Mohammad Ehsani, Shahab Esfandiari, Babak Khajehpasha, and Mohammadreza Rezapoor as members of the Policy Council for this edition of the festival.

Mohammad Ehsani

Mohammad Ehsani is one of the experienced managers of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB). His professional record includes serving as Head of the Social Group of Channel Three, Director of Planning and Programming and Deputy Director of Tehran Channel, Director of Planning and Programming at the Deputy for Television Affairs, and Member of the Strategic Council of Channel Three.

At various periods, he has also served as Deputy for Evaluation and Supervision at the Cinema Organization of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, Director of Channel One, Secretary of the 4th Jam‑e Jam Television Festival, and Director of the Namayesh, Nasim, and Tamasha TV Channels.

Shahab Esfandiari

Shahab Esfandiari holds a BA in Film Directing and an MA in Cinema from the University of Art, and received his PhD in Critical Theory and Film Studies from the University of Nottingham, UK.

He has been an Associate Professor in the Cinema Department of the Faculty of Cinema and Theatre at the University of Art, where he also served as Head of the Cinema Department from 2014 to 2017. He is currently the President of IRIB University.

Babak Khajehpasha

Babak Khajehpasha is a filmmaker who began his career in theatre and short films. He worked as an assistant director on films such as “Muhammad: The Messenger of God,” “Sun,” and “Qasr‑e Shirin.”

With his debut feature film “In the Arms of the Tree,” he won the Crystal Simorgh for Best Screenplay and the Honorary Diploma for Best First Film Director. He has also directed the feature film “Bright Blue.”

Mohammadreza Rezapoor

Mohammadreza Rezapoor is a graduate in Diplomacy and Cultural Communications. His professional background includes Content Manager of the cultural‑art monthly “Cinema Media,” member of the Cinema Working Group at the Yaqeen Think Tank, and Editor‑in‑Chief of the monthly “Cinema Critique.”

He has published dozens of articles, reviews, and essays in the cultural sections of newspapers and news agencies. He has also served as Director of the Namayesh TV Channel.

The first meeting of the Policy Council of the 15th International 100‑Second Film Festival was recently held with the participation of its members, and the details of the new edition’s call for submissions will be announced soon.