Iran (IMNA) – Speaking at the closing ceremony of the 38th International Film Festival for Children and Youth on Thursday evening, October 8, Jamalinejad welcomed the Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, members of parliament, particularly members of the Cultural Commission, artists, and all guests to Isfahan, the cultural and civilizational capital of Iran.
He also expressed his sincere gratitude to all those involved in organizing the festival, including executive committee managers and staff, whose tireless efforts had filled Isfahan with an atmosphere of hope and creativity in recent days.
“The memory of the children of Minab reminds us of the innocence and vulnerability of the people. These children are living witnesses to a truth that cinema, with integrity, captures and brings to the screen,” he said.
“Today, Isfahan is not merely a guardian of ancient history; it is also a capital of hope and a hub for developing ideas for the future of the younger generation. If we fail to understand the language and visual world of the new generation, we will inadvertently surrender the future of our country to narratives created by others,” he added.
The governor emphasized that a nation’s true strength lies not in statistics or buildings, but in the depth of the beliefs that take root in children’s minds.
“Children’s cinema is not simply an extracurricular activity or a form of entertainment for us. It is the foundation of our children’s character, self-confidence, and national identity,” he said.
He noted that the heroes of a generation growing up with artificial intelligence and digital imagery could not be shaped by clichés and slogans. Instead, cinematic heroes must be so vivid and believable that children feel proud of their Iranian heritage and identity.
“Every rial invested strategically in children’s cinema can spare the country many times that amount in future social and cultural costs,” Jamalinejad said.
He added that high-quality cinema could bring families together around a shared source of light and hope, while visual storytelling remained one of the most powerful means of presenting Iran’s dignity, progress, and honor to the world.
Jamalinejad stressed that the responsibility of government agencies was not to interfere in artists’ work, but to facilitate production and place trust in their bold creativity.
“The film industry can thrive economically only when the needs and concerns of this passionate generation are recognized,” he said, warning that a country that fails to value its children’s imagination and questioning spirit risks losing the scientists and pioneers of tomorrow.
The governor described the Isfahan festival as more than a temporary event on the calendar, calling it an annual roadmap for strengthening culture and the creative industries.
He further noted that producing high-quality animated films and movies was one of the most effective defenses against the overwhelming tide of cultural influences.
“Children’s cinema must keep alive the joy of living, the courage to experiment, and the desire to build our homeland in the hearts of the younger generation. The festival curtains may fall, but our commitment to the new generation must continue,” Jamalinejad concluded.
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