Sadi Foundation, Beijing International Studies University sign MOU 

TEHRAN – The Sadi Foundation, a Tehran-based organization that promotes the Persian language abroad, and the Beijing International Studies University (BISU) have signed a memorandum of understating (MOU).

“When the Moon Was Full” tops at Carcassonne festival

TEHRAN – Iranian director Narges Abyar’s acclaimed movie “When the Moon Was Full” won the grand prize at the 2nd edition of the Carcassonne International Political Film Festival in France, a public relations team for the movie announced on Sunday. 

By Salman Ansari Javid

“I Am a Sheikh”: Documentary on Islamic scholars in Qom

QOM – “I Am a Sheikh” is a six-minute-long radio documentary about the typical daily life routine of Iranian students at Feizieh Madrasa, a major Islamic seminary in Qom. The documentary, by independent producer Morteza Namazi, went on to win the first award for an Iranian production at the Grand Prix Nova 2018 International Radio Festival in Croatia. It was awarded the second place in the Short Forms category.

Memoirs of suspect in Mykonos murders case wins Iran’s most lucrative literary prize

TEHRAN – “Teahouse Painting”, the memoirs of Kazem Darabi, an Iranian suspect in the 1992 Mykonos Restaurant assassinations case in Berlin, has won the Jalal Al-e Ahmad Literary Award during the 12th edition of Iran’s most lucrative literary prize.

22nd International Storytelling Festival opens Tuesday

TEHRAN – The 22nd International Storytelling Festival will open in Tehran on Tuesday at the Institute for Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults (IIDCYA) with narrators from Iran and several other countries.

Tehran center to review Qajar era photography

TEHRAN – The Iranian Academy of Arts will be playing host to a meeting on Monday, which plans to review the history of photography in the Qajar period (1789–1925).

Tehran Municipality to award movies promoting less waste 

TEHRAN – Tehran Municipality has announced its plan to award movies that promote waste reduction.

Iranian children’s literature discussed at Istanbul University

TEHRAN – Several Iranian and Turkish scholars and students of the Persian language discussed Iranian children’s literature during a meeting held at Istanbul University, the Islamic Culture and Relations Organization (ICRO) announced on Wednesday.

Austrian composer Eric Spitzer-Marlyn donates recording device to Film Museum of Iran

TEHRAN – Austrian composer Eric Spitzer-Marlyn visited the Film Museum of Iran on Wednesday, donating his old Nagra III tape recorder to the museum in Tehran during a special ceremony. 

Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi praises “The Barrage”

TEHRAN – Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi praised “The Barrage”, a documentary by Iranian filmmakers Morteza Payeshenas and Hossein Momen about a battle between Iranian forces and ISIS terrorists in Syria.

Writer Qobad Azaraiin withdraws from Jalal Al-e Ahmad nominations again

TEHRAN – Iranian writer Qobad Azaraiin once again has announced that he wants his book “Eruption” to be withdrawn from among the nominations for the Jalal Al-e Ahmad Literary Awards.

“Hava, Maryam, Ayesha” on screen in Iranian theaters

TEHRAN -- “Hava, Maryam, Ayesha”, a co-production between Iran and Afghanistan by Afghan director Sahra Karimi, was screened at the Iranian Artists Forum on Tuesday with the producer Katayun Shahabi and director Karimi in attendance.

Tehran FICTS festival announces documentary lineup

TEHRAN – The 12th Tehran International FICTS Festival announced its lineup for the documentary section on Wednesday.

Leader’s rare handwritten scripts on view at NLAI

TEHRAN -- A collection of rare handwritten scripts by the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei went on display in an exhibition which opened at the National Library and Archives of Iran (NLAI) on Monday.

Iran’s House of Music cancels annual celebration 

TEHRAN – The organizers of Iran’s House of Music Celebration said on Tuesday that the winners will be announced at a later time without a celebration in order to sympathize with the families of innocent who lost their lives during the recent unrest across Iran.

Tehran cultural center to host “Incredible Iran” 

TEHRAN – An exhibition of photos by Javad Qarai, the director of the popular documentary series “Irangard”, will open Friday at the Niavaran Cultural-Historical Complex in Tehran. 

Islamic prayer reciter Qasem Musavi dies at 71

TEHRAN – The veteran reciter of Islamic prayers, Seyyed Qasem Musavi-Qahar, who was most famous for reciting the special supplications for before dawns during the holy month of Ramadan, died on Sunday at a Tehran hospital after suffering from laryngeal cancer for several years. He was 71.

“Seven and a Half” crowned best at Sydney Persian Film Festival

TEHRAN – “Seven and a Half”, a co-production between Afghanistan and Iran, won the Golden Gazelle for best film at the 8th Persian Film Festival in the Australian city of Sydney, the organizers announced on Sunday.

By Samaneh Aboutalebi 

Outtakes from Lamorisse 1978 doc “The Lovers’ Wind” open Cinéma Vérité

TEHRAN – The 13th Cinema Vérité, Iran’s major international festival for documentary cinema, opened on Monday with a screening of a short film made of outtakes from French director Albert Lamorisse’s 1978 documentary “The Lovers’ Wind” at Tehran’s Charsu Cineplex. 

Austrian pianist Gottlieb Wallisch to perform in Tehran

TEHRAN – Austrian pianist Gottlieb Wallisch is scheduled to perform recitals at Tehran’s Rudaki Hall on December 27 and 28, the Rudaki Foundation announced on Sunday. 

“Wallet” wins grand prize at Paris mobile film festival

TEHRAN – “Wallet” by Iranian director Fatima Nofely won the international grand prize at the 15th Mobile Film Festival in Paris on Friday. 

Ghazaleh Mohammadi honored at Japanese environment painting contest 

TEHRAN – Ghazaleh Mohammadi, a member of Iran’s Institute for Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults (IIDCYA), on Saturday received her prize previously won at the 10th Kao International Environment Painting Contest for Children in Tokyo.

Iranian films line up for Manchester Kinofilm Festival

TEHRAN – The Kinofilm Festival – Manchester international short film and animation festival will screen 20 movies by Iranian filmmakers in various categories of its 16th edition, which will be held in 2020, the organizers have announced.

Actress Fatemeh Motamed-Arya presiding over Kerala festival jury 

TEHRAN – Iranian actress Fatemeh Motamed-Arya is presiding over the international jury of the 24th International Film Festival of Kerala, which is currently underway in the Indian city of Thiruvananthapuram. 

Italian directors Eugenio Barba, Romeo Castellucci to attend Fajr theater festival

TEHRAN – Italian theater directors Eugenio Barba and Romeo Castellucci will be attending the 38th Fajr International Theater Festival in Tehran, the organizers announced on Saturday.

By Seyyed Mostafa Mousavi Sabet

Artists’ tax exemption a just decision? 

Cultural and artistic activities are one of the eight categories exempted from paying basic tax under Iran’s tax law.

Gunther Uecker’s “Tribute to Hafez” to move to Bushehr 

TEHRAN – After five showings in Tehran, Shiraz, Isfahan, Kerman and Rasht, German sculptor and op artist Gunther Uecker’s exhibition “Tribute to Hafez” will move to the southern Iranian city of Bushehr for another showcase.

Cinéma Vérité to screen eight biographical docs 

TEHRAN – A lineup of eight biographical documentaries will go on screen in the Portrait section of the 13th Cinéma Vérité, Iran’s major documentary film festival, the organizers announced on Friday. 

“Castle of Dreams” on screen at Tbilisi film festival

TEHRAN – Iranian filmmaker Reza Mirkarimi’s acclaimed drama “Castle of Dreams” is on screen at the Horizons section of the 20th edition of the Tbilisi International Film Festival, which is currently underway in the Georgian capital.

“Christ in the Night of Glory” distributed in Iraq, Lebanon, England

TEHRAN – Arabic and English versions of “Christ in the Night of Glory” have been distributed in Iraq, Lebanon and England.