According to Kanoon General Directorate for Public Relations and International Affairs, the head of the International Committee of the 23rd Storytelling Festival said, “This is the first time that some sections are dedicated to telling stories from special parts of the world.”

For instance, we are supposed to have special sections for tales from India, Africa, Arab world, and Scotland with the contribution of storytelling associations and individual storytellers from these countries that contribute in holding these sections in the festival. Bahareh Jahandoust added “Since we are facing some limitations due to the pandemic we could not invite guests from abroad. Yet, we could take advantage of virtual facilities and add to the number of storytellers and the varieties of stories. Therefore, we have the chance to have more participants from abroad via the Internet.”

She continued, “Effective coordination and global interaction, despite the limitations of geographical commuting due to the Corona, has given us this added value through virtual collaboration for a deeper and broader understanding of the stories and narratives of distant lands.” 

Jahandoust said, “So far more than ninety works from Iran are being reviewed and evaluated to participate in the international section of the 23rs Kanoon International Storytelling Festival.”