Designing a model for the development of indigenous cinema in Iran with a Grounded theory Approach

Document Type : researcher

Authors
Mohammad Eskandarzadeh 1
Seyed Mohammad Zargar 2
Abolfazl Danaei 3
Ehtesham Rashidi 4
1 Department of Media Management, Se.c.Islamic Azad University, Semnan, Iran.
2 Assistant Prof, Department of Media Management, , S.c. ,Islamic Azad University, Semnan,
3 Department of Media Management, Se.c., Islamic Azad University, Semnan, Iran.
4 Department of Media Management, Se.c. Islamic Azad University, Semnan, Iran
10.22034/scm.2025.524499.1878
Abstract
Considering the significant capacities of local cinema and its strategic role in promoting the status of national cinema, the aim of the present study is to design a model for the development of local cinema in Iran. This research is qualitative in terms of strategy and data-based theory. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 10 experts in the field of cinema management, producers, and cinema activists, using purposive sampling. Data analysis was conducted based on the paradigmatic model of Strauss and Corbin and using theoretical coding. The focus group method was used for validation and the repeatability criterion was used to measure reliability. The findings show that the model for the development of local cinema in Iran has reached theoretical saturation in the form of 23 main categories, 115 subcategories, and 535 concepts. Causal conditions include comprehensive support, helping to increase the audience, existing capacities, and management; contextual conditions include cultural factors, government incentives, strengthening infrastructure, developing the domestic market, and attracting new audiences; The intervening conditions include social, transnational, policy-making, and supportive factors; the strategies include decentralized focus, policy and law formulation, capacity utilization, and hardware upgrades; and the outcomes include the development of local cinema, technological outcomes, and economic, cultural, artistic, and media development. In sum, local cinema can be the most important path to elevate the status of Iranian cinema and truly transform it into a dynamic art-industry.
Keywords
Cinema
indigenous cinema
development
Iranian cinema
Cultural policymaking
Subjects
 
Alvani, S. M., & Sharifzadeh, F. (2013). General policy-making process. Tehran, Allameh
Amirantekhabi, SH., Salehi Amiri, S.R., Soltanifar, M., & Rezaei, A. A. (2015). Providing a model for cultural policy-making of the media in Iran. Social-Cultural Strategy Quarterly, 5 (17), 113-129. (in Persian) Asadzadeh, M., Ashna, H. (2020). Theory of Iranian State Cinema (Post-Revolutionary Cinema Policy Analysis Emphasizing on the policies of the Farabi Cinema Foundation). Strategic Studies of public policy, 10(34), 252-271. (in Persian)
Ashtrian, K. (2007). Public policy of Iran. Tehran, Mizan. (in Persian) Ayoobi, H. (2008). Government and Cinema in France: How to Stand Up against American
Azkiya, M., & Imani, H. (2011). Applied research methods, application of fundamental theory. Tehran, Kayhan Publications. (in Persian)
Borzoo, K., Motallebi, M., Bai, A. (2020). Cultural policy-Making and its Impact on the Soft Power of the Islamic Republic of Iran; a Case Study of the Film Industry. Political and
Brzezinski, Z. (2007). Choice: domination or leadership. (Amir Hossein Norozi, Trans.).  Tehran: Nashr-e Ney. (in Persian)
Cinema. Journal of Iranian Cultural Research, 1(3), 1-35. (in Persian)
Cinematic Policies of Iran and the Movies Introduced as the Representative of Iranian Cinema to the Academy of Oskar. Journal of Iranian Cultural Research, 6(1), 81-103.  (in Persian)
Danaei Fard, H. (2009). An Analysis of Barriers to Knowledge Generation in Field of the
Economic Impacts of Culture Industries: Turkey and Hollywood Samples. ProcediaSocial and Behavioral Sciences, 195, 1435-1442.
Fayoyin, A. (2017). Media Advocacy and Strategic Networking in Transforming Norms and Policies. In Citizenship, Democracies, and Media Engagement among Emerging Economies and Marginalized Communities (pp. 347-370). Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.
Flick, O (2009). An Introduction to Qualitative Research (2th ed.). (Hadi Jalili, Trans.). Tehran, Nashr-e Ney. (in Persian)
Freedman, D. (2010). Media policy silences: The hidden face of communications decision making. The International Journal of Press/Politics, 15(3), 344-361.
Ghanbari Baghestan, A., Ansari, N. (2020). Media Policy-Making and its Impact on the Process of Development: The Case of Indian Media. Cultural Studies & Communication, 15(57), 141-168. (in Persian)
Gómez, R., & Larroa, A. M. (2014). Cultural industries and policy in Mexico and Canada after 20 years of NAFTA. Norteamérica, 9(2), 173-204. Hill, J., & Kawashima, N. (2016). Introduction: film policy in a globalised cultural economy. International Journal of Cultural Policy, 22(5), 667-672.
Hobikoğlu, E. H., & Cetinkaya, M. (2015). In Innovative Entertainment Economy Framework,
Humanities: Some Recommendations for Promoting the Capacity of Iranian Science Policy. Journal of Science and Technology Policy, 2(1), 2-15. (in Persian)
International Researches Quarterly, 11(43), 307-327. (in Persian)
Lee, S. T. (2021). Film as cultural diplomacy: South Korea’s nation branding through Parasite (2019). Place Branding and Public Diplomacy, 1-12.
Momimand, M. (2019). A study of Iranian cinema policy after the Islamic Revolution and its role in the conflict between the filmmakers' community and the government. Master Thesis, Shahid Beheshti University, Faculty of Literature and Humanities. (in Persian)
Mozaffar, H., Rezaiyan, M., Hajiparvaneh, A., Elhambakhsh, M. (2020). Designing a cultural policy model for national media. Interdisciplinary Studies on Strategic Knowledge, 3(12), ( .801-57in Persian)
Raif, D. (2012). Content analysis of communication messages, (Mahdokht Boroujerdi, Trans.). Tehran, Soroush. (in Persian)
Ramírez, L. & Lorens, F. (2019). Cinema, Authoritarianism and Media Policy in Argentina: The Mar del Plata Film Festival of 1968. Historia Crítica, (72), 139-160.
Ravadrad, A., Tamannaei, A. (2013). An Analysis of the Relationship between Cultural-
Roshandel Arbatani, T. (2015). Essential research in the field of theoretical concepts of media policy. Journal of Public Administration, 7(3), 481-504. (in Persian)
Shiel, M, Fitzmaurice, T. (2001). Cinema and the City: Film and Urban Societies in a Global Context
Strauss, A., & Corbin, J. (2006). Principles of qualitative research method, basic theory, translated by Mohammadi Buick. (1th ed.). Tehran, Institute of Humanities and Cultural Studies. (in Persian)
Strauss, A., & Corbin, J. (2018). Fundamentals of qualitative research (techniques and stages of production of grounded theory). (Ibrahim Afshar, Trans.). Tehran, Nashr-e Ney.  (in Persian)
Su, W. (2014). Cultural Policy and Film Industry as Negotiation of Power: The Chinese State’s Role and Strategies in its Engagement with Global Hollywood 1994–2012We. Pacific Affairs, 87(1), 93-114.
Tabatabaei University Press. (in Persian)
Viteazul, M. (2018). Cinema as a tool of influence in the portfolio of Iran’s public diplomacy, International conference RcicL”18. Redefining community in international context.
Yang, Y. (2016). Film policy, the Chinese government and soft power. New Cinemas: Journal of Contemporary Film, 14(1), 71-91.
Ziaee, S. M. (2019). Sociological study of cultural policies with emphasis on cinema from 2009 to 2017. Master Thesis, Yasouj University, Faculty of Basic Sciences. (in Persian)
Zibakalam, S., Bayat, J. (2015). The Cinema and Soft Power, comparative politics of America and China. Intercultural Studies Quarterly, 10(24), 43-72. (in Persian)
Society Culture Media
Volume 14, Issue 55
Summer 2025
Pages 321-354

  • Receive Date 05 June 2025
  • Revise Date 12 August 2025
  • Accept Date 09 June 2025