The Documentary, Experimental, and Animation Film Center (DEFC) is Iran’s principal public institution dedicated to the production and promotion of documentary, experimental and animated cinema, operating under the supervision of the Iranian Cinema Organization. Established in 1984 under the original title of the Experimental and Semi-Professional Film Center, it was renamed in the early 1990s to reflect its expanded mandate in documentary cinema, and in 2022 its structure was updated and its title officially changed to the Documentary, Experimental, and Animation Film. In 2018, the Center was reorganized into two main production divisions – Documentary and Animation – to sharpen its focus on development, production workflows and strategic planning for international markets and multi-platform distribution.

DEFC produces and co-produces more than 70 documentaries and around 30 animated films each year, encompassing short, mid-length and feature-length projects. Its activities cover the entire value chain, from project development and script support to production, post-production and festival and market representation. The Center’s mandate is to nurture formally innovative, content-driven work, with particular attention to projects that explore social issues, culture and history, as well as artistically ambitious animated films aimed at both general and specialized audiences. Each year, films supported by the DEFC in both documentary and animation sections receive numerous awards from prestigious international festivals and professional events around the world.

As part of its international and curatorial role, DEFC organizes the annual “Cinema Verite” Iran International Documentary Film Festival in Tehran, widely regarded as one of the most important and influential documentary film festivals in Asia and a major showcase for both Iranian and global non-fiction cinema.

One of the Center’s key operational branches is the Art and Experience Cinema group, which has played a vital role in expanding and diversifying theatrical exhibition for experimental and arthouse cinema in Iran. DEFC also works closely with leading national VOD platforms and documentary-focused portals, including services to bring its documentary and animation catalogue to wider domestic and international audiences across online and television outlets.