Iran is flying its flag and promoting national cinema production at it tented pavilion on the French Riviera.

This year Iran a larger presence at the cinema market of the Cannes Film Festival, as Tehran opens up to the world ahead of the possible suspension of Western sanctions.

For the 1st time since Y 2009 Iran’s government has its own stand-alone pavilion at the Cannes Film Festival on the French Riviera town, a culture ministry official said Friday.

“Under the new government, we thought we should open the doors and improve our artistic, cultural relations with other cultures, other countries. That’s our overall policy,” said ministry’s international affairs director, Arash Amini.

This is another indication that Iran’s moderate President Hassan Rouhani is doing away with the more isolationist position of his predecessor, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Iran and world powers are negotiating a deal that would see the Islamic State curb its nuclear program in exchange for relief from the Western sanctions that have dampened its economy.

An interim accord has brought a small easing in the sanctions, but a broader suspension will only happen if a full agreement is struck by a 30 June deadline.

Mr. Amini is handling the high-level business of selling Iranian movies and checking out other films for Iranian Film Festivals.

He said Asian interest in Iranian cinema is strong, especially China wanting its sensitive family centric dramas.

Mr. Amini said the sanctions had little effect on Iran movie sector, and predicted the current lessening of some sanctions “will improve things a bit for transferring money”.

If a full nuclear/sanctions deal is struck in June, he said, “that would surely improve things. We hope that things will become a lot easier.”

Have a terrific weekend.

By Live Trading News