On Monday, 29 December, Mr. Sudath Mahadi Vay Wa, Chairman of the National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka, an institution affiliated with the Ministry of Culture and Buddhism of Sri Lanka, along with his accompanying delegation, met and held talks with Mr. Ali Kobreia Zadeh at the Cultural Counsellor’s Office of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

During the meeting, Mr. Sudath presented a report on his recent visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran and the city of Shiraz, where he attended the Fajr International Film Festival. He stated that the commercialization and international distribution of Iranian films, as discussed in Iran, require financial support, particularly for the organization of film festivals.

The Chairman of the National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka added that Iranian films enjoy a wide audience in Sri Lanka, and that efforts are being made to facilitate broader access to them. He described cinema as the easiest and most widely accepted way to introduce Iran to foreign audiences.

Mr. Sudath also pointed out an existing gap, noting that despite his extensive search in Iran, he was unable to find any books, journals, brochures, or other English-language materials that introduce and analyze Iran’s film industry. He further emphasized that Sri Lankan audiences have a strong demand for Iranian films focusing on children and family themes.He concluded by stating that the National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka has always maintained constructive cooperation with the Iranian Cultural Counsellor’s Office and expressed his desire for this collaboration to continue.

Mr. Ali Kebreiae Zadeh, in turn, provided a detailed overview of the Iranian film industry and referred to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance of Iran and the National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka. He noted that the agreement remains valid for another two years, stressing that the main challenge lies in its effective implementation.According to Mr. Kebreiae Zadeh, the signed MoU is comprehensive and covers cooperation in various areas, including joint film production, organization of film weeks, and cinema education and training.

The Iranian Cultural Counsellor further stated that, based on a proposal by the Iranian Studies Association of Sri Lanka, plans are underway to screen several Iranian feature films on the occasion of the anniversary of the victory of the Islamic Revolution. He suggested that this initiative be carried out in cooperation with the National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka.

Mr. Sudath welcomed the proposal and expressed his readiness to cooperate, noting that the Corporation has a well-equipped cinema hall suitable for hosting such screenings. Accordingly, it was agreed that a joint meeting with the Iranian Studies Association would be held to decide on the details of the program.