World storytellers get together at Urmia festival

TEHRAN,Jan.28(MNA) -- Storytellers from 17 countries attended the 15th International Storytelling Festival which opened during a ceremony in Urmia city on Thursday morning. The festival is organized by the Institute for Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults (IIDCYA). “A total of 1850 storytellers from different countries including Jordan, Romania, Thailand, Lebanon, Canada and Denmark submitted their works to the secretariat of the gala,” the IIDCYA deputy director for cultural affairs Mohammad Baqer Adusi mentioned at the ceremony. He said that several authors, translators and publishers are attending this edition of festival which distinguishes it from previous editions. “The IIDCYA has trained 2000 storytellers during the past year and they told 60000 stories for children,” Adusi added. He called storytelling the simplest, the most effective, and most economic educational means by which storytellers can establish an emotional connection with their audience and strengthen their curiosity and creativity. At the ceremony, the deputy governor of Western Azerbaijan Province for political and social affairs Ebrahim Fatollahi also talked about the importance of storytelling. He referred to storytellers as the main creators of culture saying that they reinforce beliefs through telling their stories to children. “By telling true stories, mythical and imaginary stories, the storytellers can revive the spirit of heroism and wisdom to a nation,” he said. The festival will run until January 29 in Urmia, capital of Western Azerbaijan Province in north west of Iran.