He appealed directly to critics, asking them not to condemn filmmakers for creating stories that reflect dreams and aspirations. “Do not criticize us for making films,” he said. “An artist lives with horizons and imagination.” He insisted that filmmakers remain servants of the people, and that service means standing beside society in all circumstances. His speech received extended applause from much of the audience.
After his remarks, the ceremony moved into the awards segment, beginning with the Cinema Advertising section. Members of the jury—Mehdi Ashena, Hafez Ahmadi, Mehdi Hosseinvand, Arash Moeyrian, and Ali Vazirian—were invited onto the stage, though Ashena was absent.
The Crystal Simorgh and Diploma of Honor for Best Cinematography in this section were awarded to Mehrdad Ghazizadeh Amini for the film “God of War.” The award recognized both technical precision and visual storytelling, with the jury highlighting the film’s dynamic imagery and disciplined composition.
Next, the Crystal Simorgh and Diploma of Honor for Best Poster were presented to Mohammad Taghipour for “Morning of Execution.” The jury praised the poster’s striking design and its ability to convey narrative tension through a single image.
