Atabak Naderi: Art is the only international language

This meeting was held with an emphasis on inviting Iranian theater artists to participate in festivals of the guest countries of this great event. The meeting was attended by professors and artists from Azerbaijan, Iraq, Russia, Lebanon, and India.

At the beginning of the meeting, Atabak Naderi said: " The Fadjr International Theater Festival is one of the largest international in the region. This is not our statement, but the words of guests like you who have participated in this event from other countries."

He continued: “Our government’s policy has always been open to creating and strengthening cultural relations, and it has also paid for this strengthening of cultural diplomacy, and this is one of the necessary expenses for our statesmen. Because art is the only international language and creates bridges of friendship between artists.”

Naderi added: “We have different ethnicities in Iran, from the north and the Caspian Sea to the south and the Persian Gulf. These ethnicities have their own language and literature, living under the flag of Iran. All the diverse and beautiful ethnicities of Iran, like the different colors, form a beautiful carpet called Iran.”

The General Director of Dramatic Arts Center said: " we only have 5 percent of our country's theater productions at 43rd Fadjr. It's a big dream, but I wish you could go to all regions of Iran and see these cultures. I hope that by attending this event, you will bring a good gift of Iranian art and hospitality back to your country."

The artistic director of Fadjr, Kheyrollah Taghyanipour also emphasized: “ As Atabek Naderi  said, theater created friendship for us, and this art has become an reason for greater interactions between Iranian artists and other countries.”

Tofig Heydarov , an artist from Azerbaijan  said : "We have close religious and cultural similarities with Iran. The first steps in the relationship with the Azerbaijani theater were taken by Atabak Naderi. We participated in numerous festivals in Iran and in different cities, and our works were well received and supported by the audience."

Imane Abdul Sattar Attaullah is an Iraqi artist who ‘s participated at the meeting, This artist also expressed hope that they will have closer cooperation with Iranian artists in the near future.

Kassem Istanbouli, founder of the Lebanese National Theatre spoke about their decision to invite Iranian theater artists to participate in Lebanese festivals and to sign a memorandum of understanding for joint cooperation with Iranian artists.

Araz Abdul Rahman and Hassan Mohammad Saleh Rahim from Iraqi Kurdistan were other guests of the meeting. Referring to the cultural similarities between Iran and Iraqi Kurdistan, they considered attending the Fadjr International Theater Festival to be the largest artistic event in the region and considered their presence in Fadjr a source of pride and honor.

Sreejith Ramanan is  an Indian actor and director , also discussed the workshop of Fadjr and said: "I am happy to be in Iran for 3 days with the workshop "Contemporary Performance Methods". Fortunately, the first day of the workshop was well organized. Holding such events allows us to be beyond boundaries to become better human beings."

He went on to say: "We always host European theater groups, and there is a sense of a void for Asian artists in our festivals. I hope that this void will be filled by the presence of Iranian artists."

Presided over by writer and director Kheyrollah Taghyanipour, the 43rd Fadjr International Theater Festival is underway in Tehran until February 1,2025. For further information, please visit our website at www.fitf.theater.ir