The 20th Cinema Vérité International Documentary Film Festival of Iran will be held in December 2026.

The 20th edition of Iran’s International Documentary Film Festival, “Cinema Vérité,” will be held in Azar 1405 (November 22 to December 21, 2026), featuring national and international sections, the Martyr Avini Award, and special sections such as photography and student films, as well as the competitive “Iran” section.

Over the past year, Iran has been subjected to two military attacks by the United States and the Israeli regime—attacks that targeted not only its geographical borders, but also the will, dignity, and identity of an ancient civilization. The killing of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution and several Iranian officials, along with the deaths and injuries of dozens of our fellow citizens and the damage caused by these attacks, have also prompted artists to respond.

Documentary cinema, as a form of organized truth-telling, is not merely a neutral observer at such moments in history; it is a responsible storyteller. The 20th edition of Cinema Vérité recognizes this responsibility and places civil resistance, national solidarity, and the remarkable sense of empathy among Iranians in the face of foreign domination and aggression at the center of its themes for storytelling and analysis.

The first edition of the Cinema Vérité International Documentary Film Festival was held in 2007 (1386 SH). Over the years, Cinema Vérité has grown into the most important documentary film event in Iran and one of the leading documentary film festivals in the Middle East.

Those interested can visit the festival’s official website at www.irandocfest.ir for more information about the organization and details of this year’s festival.