Iran Cinema Organization officially launched

TEHRAN,Feb.8(MNA) – Iran Cinema Organization, the new independent organization for Iranian cinema, was officially inaugurated here on Tuesday during a ceremony held at Milad Tower. Iran`s Deputy Culture Minister for Cinematic Affairs Javad Shamaqdari has taken the helm of the organization, which actually replaced the office of the deputy culture minister for cinematic affairs. The ceremony took place in the presence of Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Mohammad Hosseini, Shamaqdari and several cinematic figures. The organization is comprised of three departments focusing on cinematic activities, Shamaqdari said at the ceremony, adding that they include the evaluation of films, supervision on the quality of productions and a mutual trust of the private sector. Running under the supervision of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, the organization will be independent with a separate budget and will be able to enforce its views better than the office, Shamaqdari had said earlier. Hosseini also made brief remarks that the organization has been formed to give better service in the fields of software and hardware, “due attention of officials to cinema and fulfilling people’s taste were some of the major reasons to establish the organization.” He also added the organization will have a sufficient budge next (Iranian calendar) year. Iran Cinema Organization was formed after the Culture Ministry filed a lawsuit against the Iranian House of Cinema (IHC) in early December, having accused it of making amendments to its charter that have not been approved by the Iran Public Culture Council (IPCC). However, the Culture Ministry did not wait for the court hearing and issued an order announcing the dissolution of the IHC, which was the guild of Iranian cineastes.