Iran Zamin Cinema (IZC) is an English-language online magazine dedicated exclusively to Iranian cinema, including films by the Iranian diaspora. Our mission is to publish high-quality film essays written in an engaging style and accessible to a broad audience.
If you share our serious interest in Iranian cinema and would like to contribute to a distinctive film magazine, we would be delighted to consider your article proposal.
How to Submit an Article
Please do not send a completed article as your initial submission. Instead, begin by submitting a brief abstract (3–5 sentences) outlining your topic and the main argument or idea behind your proposed piece. Your email should also include a short bio with a few details about yourself.
Please send both to andrej@iranzamincinema.com.
After reviewing your abstract, we will let you know whether we are interested in the proposed topic. Please note that acceptance of an abstract does not guarantee acceptance of the finished article. IZC reserves the right to accept the final submission, request revisions, or decline it.
Editorial Guidelines
All articles are published in American English, which is the magazine’s editorial standard. If you normally write in British English, there is no need to adapt your manuscript before submission. If your article is accepted, it will be edited for American English as part of our standard editorial process.
Please submit manuscripts in .docx format.
If your article includes footnotes with bibliographic references, please follow the Chicago citation style.
IZC does not accept articles whose content has been generated by AI. However, if English is not your native language, you may use AI tools to translate your article into English. In such cases, authors are expected to carefully review the final text and assume full responsibility for its language, accuracy, and meaning.
IZC is currently an independent, volunteer-run project. Unfortunately, we are not yet able to offer contributor fees.
What We’re Looking For
We are looking for articles that are well-researched, yet clear, engaging, and accessible. We are not seeking highly specialized academic papers intended for a small scholarly audience. Instead, we welcome articles that present complex ideas in a thoughtful, readable way for a broader readership.
Reviews (750–1,000 words)
Reviews should go beyond plot summaries or collections of personal impressions. We are looking for reviews that highlight the film’s less obvious aesthetic, cultural, historical, or social dimensions.
Deep Focus (1,500–2,500 words)
In-depth analytical or interpretive essays focusing on a single film or on a specific aspect of one director’s body of work. We welcome articles that offer original insights and engage with relevant scholarly literature.
Contexts (1,500–2,500 words)
Essays exploring the broader cultural, ideological, or aesthetic contexts of Iranian cinema. These may examine themes or phenomena that appear across the work of multiple filmmakers or across different cinematic movements.
Perspectives (500–1,500 words)
This section features contributions from filmmakers, cinematographers, still photographers, actors, producers, festival programmers, and other film professionals. Through personal reflections, memories, and firsthand accounts, these pieces offer unique perspectives on Iranian cinema.
What We’re Not Looking For
We do not publish:
- political manifestos or activist essays;
- fan reviews based solely on personal opinions;
- dense academic papers burdened with lengthy methodological introductions;
- articles that rely on obscure jargon.
Our goal is to publish articles that combine expertise, originality, and readability. If you believe you have a piece that fits this vision, we look forward to receiving your proposal.