Storytelling festival: When myths and legends become a nation’s eternal treasure

Archive picture from a past festival

By Alireza Bahrami
AsiaN Contributor

Tehran: An institute for young people in Iran is anticipating a wide international participation in a festival that aims to improve and highlight the invaluable art of storytelling.

The Institute of the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults (Kanoon) is planning its next festival at the end of the year but has already sent out invitations to take part in the annual event.

“We have proudly hosted international experts, artists and storytellers all over the world. It will be honor of us to have the chance of the presence of artists either have a storytelling performance or a workshop,” organizers said.

Archive picture from a past festival

“Based on the works received to participate in the festival and the jury group decisions, storytellers from different countries will be selected for the final performance at Yalda Night on December 19-21.”

Applicants have been urged to send videos of their performances to enable the judges to issue a shortlist and select the winners who will be invited to the Kanoon festival.

Storytellers are free to choose any themes and topics aiming at enhancing the intellectual development of children and teenagers.

Stories can be didactic, national myths and legends, popular and literary.

Criteria used to decide the winners include the choice of the story, the development of the stories, techniques, words and tones used by the storyteller, mastery of the performance, engagement with the audience, and the storyteller’s attire.