Toronto International Film Festival is the precursor to all things films for the six months that follow. The 11-day festival, launched in 1976, is now one of the most prestigious in the world, catapulting emerging filmmakers into the international scene and setting the tone for the big fall movie season and film festivals to come, including Festival de Cannes. FCC approaches TIFF from multiple points of view in this blog post that discusses lesser-known parts of the festival considered ground zero for many co-productions.

Farsi Cinema Center takes this moment to highlight the three Farsi films recognized by IndieWire. Despite exclusively representing the cinema of Iran, the inclusion of Iranian film in the rankings suggests added appreciation and integration of Farsi culture on a global scale. As the Afghan and Tajik industries continue to develop, FCC remains optimistic about the rise of Farsi cinema as a whole, and looks forward to witnessing the inclusion of other Farsi regions on IndieWire’s list in 2030.

Iran’s treacherous cinematic history has established itself as one of the most boundary-pushing art forms in existence, instilling a sense of pride for many of its citizens. Both approaches to Iranian film, the metaphorical and non-political, have made tremendous waves along the festival circuit and invented spaces for international audiences to learn more about daily life in Iran. In addition to receiving recognition at major festivals such as Cannes, Berlinale, Venice, TIFF, and Sundance, film festivals dedicated to showcasing the work of Iranians have created a name for themselves in cities around Asia, Europe, and North America.