Farhad Mehranfar, in an interview about the identity crisis of Generation Alpha adolescents and its impacts on Iranian children's cinema, pointed out important issues. He believes that to create films suitable for this generation, it is necessary to gain a deeper understanding of their worldview and desires.
The Impact of New Technologies on Adolescent Identity
Mehranfar emphasized that today’s adolescents shape a large part of their identity and lived experiences from childhood in the digital world, stating: "These adolescents are constantly searching and questioning in their interactions with family, school, and the online space. They want to know who they will become, and this is not just a matter of entertainment."
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Challenges of Social Life and Future Outlook
This director identified the conflict between the real world and the online space as one of the main challenges for Generation Alpha, adding: "Some Iranian adolescents, while having many virtual connections, often feel lonely and believe that no one truly understands them. This contradiction could become a central theme in children's and adolescents' cinema."
Mehranfar also referred to adolescents' concerns about the future, stating: "This generation seeks self-awareness and faces social realities, struggling with anxieties about the future and the possibility of migration. This gap in experiences between parents and children could also become an important topic in children's and adolescents' cinema."
He further emphasized that cinema should not be limited to moral and educational messages and should allow adolescents to make choices and mistakes. This director noted that the identity crisis is one of the most important topics that children's and adolescents' cinema should focus on in the coming years.
In response to his criticisms of government cultural institutions, Mehranfar said: "These institutions must understand that the future of the country depends on the proper growth and development of children and adolescents and should not become confused and politicized." He concluded by highlighting the necessity of representing the diverse experiences of Generation Alpha, adding: "If those responsible for children's cinema can connect these experiences, adolescents will feel that the stories reflect their own realities and concerns."
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