The Iranian Youth Cinema Society (IYCS) is Iran’s leading non-profit educational institution dedicated to short film and emerging filmmakers. Established in 1985, it has grown over four decades into the largest national center for training and production in short cinema, operating under the supervision of the Iranian Cinema Organization with a nationwide network of dozens of branches across the country.

IYCS’s core mission is to discover, train, and support new generations of filmmakers in the field of short film. Its activities are structured around three main pillars: comprehensive education in cinema and photography, production and co-production of short films, and the organization of national and international film events. Through one-year filmmaking courses and specialized workshops held in its branches, the Society offers training in directing, screenwriting, cinematography, editing, sound, animation and photography, providing many young talents with their first structured access to cinema.

As a producer and supporter of short films, IYCS has built up a substantial catalogue of works that have screened at major international festivals such as Clermont-Ferrand, Cannes, IDFA, Oberhausen, Venice, Busan, Yamagata and many others, earning numerous awards for young Iranian filmmakers and significantly contributing to the global visibility of Iranian short cinema.

A key highlight of its activities is the annual Tehran International Short Film Festival (TISFF), organized by IYCS. Recognized as one of the oldest and most important short film festivals in the region, TISFF is an Academy Award®–qualifying festival, giving its top prize winners the opportunity to be considered for the Oscars®. In addition to TISFF, the Society regularly organizes regional short film festivals, film and photo weeks, and collaborative events across Iran to decentralize access to culture and nurture local talent.

Internationally, IYCS represents Iran in bodies such as the International Union of Non-Professional Cinema (UNICA) and the International Federation of Photographic Art (FIAP), and has founded the Iran Photo Agency to support the promotion of Iranian photographers’ work abroad—extending its role beyond cinema to a broader ecosystem of visual arts and image-making.