One of the most significant moments of the closing ceremony of the 44th Fajr Film Festival was the presentation of the Best Film from a National Perspective, known as the Martyr Sardar Soleimani Special Award. This honor was awarded to Habib Valinejad for the film “Midnight,” a production that drew attention for its thematic focus and emotional intensity. The award carried symbolic importance, not only because of its title, but also because of the distinguished figures present on stage during its presentation.
The award was presented in the presence of the jury members, Zeinab Soleimani, the Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, the Secretary of the Festival, the Head of the Cinema Organization, and President Masoud Pezzekian. The gathering of such prominent cultural and political figures underscored the importance attached to this particular category.
When Habib Valinejad stepped to the podium to accept the Crystal Simorgh, he began with words directed toward the broader cinema community. “First of all,” he said, “I would like to say to all the people in cinema: don’t get tired. This Simorgh belongs to all the people in cinema who worked together and grew tired.” His remarks reflected an emphasis on collective effort rather than individual achievement.
