Mahmoudi, the director of the documentary “This Is a Protest,” first expressed satisfaction with the addition of the section “University: The Fortress of Knowledge” to the call for entries of the 16th Ammar Popular Film Festival, saying: “At the closing ceremony of the previous edition, I spoke with the organizers and made this very suggestion. Now that it has been implemented, I hope it will not remain just a title in the festival program, but will continue as a serious section with expert panels and the presence of student activists. The university plays a decisive role at the heart of the country’s developments, and the need to document this reality through artistic works is deeply felt.”

From the continuous presence of students to the lack of production

Referring to the role of students throughout all historical periods, this documentary filmmaker said: “The steadfastness of students against the bullying of foreign powers is not limited to the post-revolution era. Before the Revolution as well, on December 7, 1953 (16 Azar 1332), a clear symbol of this spirit was seen. After the Revolution, following the guidance of Imam Khomeini (RA), this role became even more extensive. From the takeover of the U.S. Embassy to the protests against the Saadabad Statement—these are examples of student action against foreign powers. Therefore, throughout all historical periods, idealistic Iranian students have stood against the unjust actions of foreigners.”

He added: “Despite these major and dramatic events, we still do not have worthy and influential artistic works about them. Even American figures express surprise that no efforts have been made in Iran to portray or produce works about these events. We still lack accurate written references for many of these incidents, and our collaborators must collect accounts orally, person by person, to make a film.”

The need to create role models from heroes of knowledge

Mehdi Mahmoudi, referring to the enemy’s cognitive and intelligence awareness of Iranian scientists and the necessity of creating role models from heroes in the field of science, said: “With the martyrdom of Martyr Fakhrizadeh, we realized how precisely the enemy had identified this scientist and conducted extensive intelligence work on him. And of course, this is not limited to Martyr Fakhrizadeh. Presenting and modeling the heroes of science must be taken seriously, but unfortunately, our media and art have not yet understood the importance of this field. The section ‘Jihad and Martyrdom in Higher Education’ in the Ammar Festival must address this very gap—heroes who are the strengths of the Iranian nation and are targeted for that reason.”

The need for solutions for filmmakers dealing with security‑sensitive material

The director of “This Is a Protest,” referring to the need to establish a framework for handling classified information in works about martyrs, said: “One of our main challenges in making films about martyrs and scientists is the issue of classified information. When the filmmaker goes to research, they run into a security wall. Naturally, security matters—but solutions must be created so filmmakers can work within regulations. Without this cooperation, the narratives of this field will remain neglected.”

The central role of the university

Mahmoudi said about the role of the university in the country’s progress: “In the recent twelve‑day conflict between Israel and Iran, senior military commanders and Iranian scientists were two primary targets of the enemy. This shows how important the university is to the enemy. The university has shone not only in political activism but also in scientific production, which has been frequently emphasized by the Supreme Leader. In all critical national moments, the academic community—from medicine to technology and military fields—has stepped forward. We must portray this real role accurately in our works.”

Ammar: A bridge toward the desired point

In the final part of his remarks, Mehdi Mahmoudi, director of “This Is a Protest,” emphasized the importance of media and the need to raise awareness among Iranians and the world: “In all media fields, despite efforts, we are still behind the enemies of the Islamic Republic of Iran. They have long understood the importance of media and invested heavily in it. We are only now catching up. Issues such as Palestine or the martyrs of science are global issues, and we must create serious works to raise awareness among Iranian and global public opinion so the world recognizes us not as spectators, but as agents of justice and freedom.”

The new section “University: The Fortress of Knowledge” in the call for entries of the 16th Ammar Popular Film Festival is an opportunity to restore the university to its true place—the bastion of knowledge and faith. With broader and more comprehensive participation, this section can also become a link between the new generation of artists and the legacy of sacrifice and idealism of Iranian university students.