Highlights From the Ceremony Awarding the First-Class Order of Art to Alireza Davoodnejad

The Iranian film industry recently gathered to honor one of its longstanding filmmakers as Alireza Davoodnejad received the First-Class Order of Art, one of the most significant official artistic recognitions presented to figures in Iran’s cultural and artistic community.

The ceremony honoring Alireza Davoodnejad, the Iranian filmmaker, director, screenwriter and producer known for films including The Need and Sweet Agony, was held at the Seyfollah Dad Hall of the Cinema Organization on Sunday, September 13, 2026, coinciding with celebrations for Iran’s National Cinema Day. The event brought together current and former cinema officials, filmmakers, actors, producers and members of Davoodnejad’s family.

The ceremony was more than an award presentation. It became an occasion for Iranian filmmakers and cinema professionals to reflect on Davoodnejad’s decades-long career, his approach to filmmaking, his influence on Iranian cinema and the distinctive relationship between his work and everyday life.

Among those reported to have attended were Cinema Organization head Raed Faridzadeh, Mohammad-Mehdi Tabatabaei-Nejad, Ruhollah Hosseini, Alireza Tabesh, Hamidi-Moghadam, as well as filmmakers and cinema professionals including Manouchehr Mohammadi, Abolhasan Davoodi, Alireza Raisian, Asghar Rafiei-Jam, Mohammad-Ali Farsi, Zahra Davoodnejad, Manouchehr Shahsavari and Mohammad-Reza Davoodnejad.

The gathering provided an opportunity to celebrate an important chapter in the history of Iranian cinema while placing renewed attention on one of the country’s veteran filmmakers.

September 17, 2026 | 10:07 pm