3rd Sobh International Media Festival announces winners

 

Dr. Peyman Jebelli, head of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), addresses the 3rd edition of the International Sobh Media Festival in the Iranian capital Tehran on May 5, 2025.

The third edition of the Sobh International Media Festival, currently underway in the Iranian capital, Tehran, announced the winners across various media categories during an impressive ceremony on Monday.

The week-long media festival, which commenced on Saturday at the International Conference Center of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), aims to amplify voices and narratives of anti-imperialism that are often marginalized in Western media.

This year, the prestigious festival received 4,160 entries from 39 countries, including the Netherlands, Argentina, Tunisia, Afghanistan, Russia, Peru, South Korea, Lebanon, Qatar, Syria, Italy, the UK, Singapore, Germany, Brazil, the United States, China, Ireland, and Palestine.

Of these submissions, 533 entries were dedicated to the Palestine section, while 3,627 were submitted as part of the main competition.

The festival’s categories included television programs, news blogs, visual arts, music videos, short films, documentaries, and animated shorts within the Palestine section.

It also welcomed entries in its main section that included social media content, radio programs, podcasts, written works, motion graphics, news reports, documentaries, and television programs.

Among the foreign dignitaries participating in this year’s festival are former British Member of Parliament George Galloway, as well as former Irish Members of the European Parliament Mick Wallace and Clare Daly.

Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) chief Peyman Jebelli also graced the event and, in his speech, drew attention to the role of international media in giving voice to the voiceless.

Key themes and discussions

The annual festival explores critical topics through four specialized sessions, including developments in the West Asia region following the Al-Aqsa Storm, a historic resistance operation against the Zionist entity that occurred in October 2023.

Other major themes include the role of social media in challenging dominant narratives, the decline of American hegemony and the emergence of a new global order, and the influence of Israeli lobbies on Western political institutions.

Additionally, a series of workshops are being held as part of the week-long festival on a wide range of subjects, such as investigative journalism, the design and production of political magazines, journalism focused on West Asian affairs, the management of news-analysis platforms, video content production for social media, international film co-production, and social media network management.

The 3rd Sobh International Media Festival accepting entries until February 5

The 3rd Sobh International Media Festival accepting entries until February 5

The third edition of the Sobh International Media Festival – the prestigious international media event organized by IRIB World Service – is accepting entries until Feb. 5, 2025.

New initiatives

For the first time, this edition of the festival introduced the International Media Products Market, bringing together several foreign and Iranian companies and television networks.

Launched in 2023 by the World Service of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), the festival aims to connect a diverse array of international program producers and foster constructive engagement among them.

The event centers on the theme "Media and the New World Order," emphasizing the significance of local and regional identities, spirituality, family values, and the discourse of resistance in confronting hegemonic powers, their proxies, and their aggressive pursuits.