Hawzah News Agency –According to the Public Relations Department of the Islamic Culture and Relations Organization (ICRO), the 12th International Short Film Festival of the Republic of Azerbaijan was opened with the participation of hundreds of artists, directors and filmmakers at the Ganjavi Cinema in Baku.

3,217 short films on various topics and themes from 76 countries have been sent to the Festival’s Secretariat, among which, two animations and a short film from the Islamic Republic of Iran have entered the competition section.

The screening of these films will continue until Tuesday (Nov.23) at the Ganjavi Cinema, and the results of this competition will be announced by the jury on the same day.

The festival, which started in Baku in 2004, is supported by the Ministry of Culture of Republic of Azerbaijan and the number of participants is increasing every year.

On the sidelines of the ceremony, Firooz Shami, director of the International Short Film Festival, in a meeting with Ghorbanali Pourmarjan, Iran’s Cultural Attaché in Baku, praised Iran"s culture and civilization and expressed hope that many Iranian films to take part in the future festivals.

I have to say; As part of the festival"s opening ceremony, Hossein Mehdi was awarded the Pomegranate Gold Award, related to the last year"s festival.