The 'Mobarrak' International Puppet Theatre Festival in Tehran concluded its activities in Tehran by holding a ceremony in memory of the children killed in Minab, as well as paying tribute to two prominent figures in Iranian puppet art—Adel Bezdoodeh and Homayedeh Jeddikar.
The festival's closing ceremony took place on Thursday at the Tehran City Theatres Complex. The event gathered theatre professionals and cultural officials to mark the end of the five-day festival. As reported by Mehr on Friday, the program included performances for children and youth, adult audiences, as well as open and inclusive theatrical productions.
The central theme of the ceremony was commemorating the children whose lives were cut short after the Shajare Tayyeb school in Minab was struck by military force from the US and Israel. The attack resulted in the deaths of 168 students and other civilians, causing deep sorrow in the local community. The festival also featured a special section titled 'Imaginary Chronicle of Minab,' which utilized puppetry and theatrical expression to immortalize the memory of these children.
Poupak Azimpour, the festival secretary, spoke at the ceremony, highly praising the work of the artists whose performances managed to evoke various emotions and perspectives among the audience in Tehran. She expressed hope that children would always have access to dreams and imagination.
Mehdi Shafiei, Deputy Minister of Culture for Artistic Affairs, described puppetry as an art form capable of animating objects and giving shape to hope and imagination. He noted that this art form allows for the conveyance of ideas that people find difficult to express directly.
Shafiei also emphasized the international nature of the festival, noting that performances by foreign artists can contribute to cultural dialogue. As an example, he cited Peter Schumann's performance dedicated to the memory of the Minab children, demonstrating how puppetry can serve as a medium for artistic self-expression and solidarity.
He called for puppetry to become a more regular part of public cultural life, rather than being limited to festival periods. Furthermore, he stressed the need to expand public performances for adult audiences and revive student puppet festivals, which previously helped develop artists and productions.
The ceremony honored Homayedeh Jeddikar for her many years of contribution to the development of puppet theatre and recognized her long professional career in the field. Adel Bezdoodeh, another significant figure in Iranian puppet theatre, also received an award for decades of his work. Director and playwright Marzieh Borumand recalled their long professional collaboration, highlighting his contributions as a puppeteer, creator, set designer, director, and teacher. Bezdoodeh was presented with a commemorative statuette and a certificate.
The non-competitive festival also acknowledged all participating artists and directors across all sections, including productions for children and youth, adult theatre, as well as open and inclusive programs.
The 'Mobarrak' International Puppet Theatre Festival in Tehran is one of Iran's established events dedicated to puppet art. It brings together artists and productions that explore the artistic and narrative possibilities of this genre. Beyond its entertainment function, the festival serves as a platform for experimentation, cultural exchange, and interaction with audiences of all ages.