“The Sun’s Daughter” captures Iranian children’s hearts

TEHRAN – The third edition of Sweden-based Afghan writer Mohammad-Hossein Mohammadi’s children’s book “The Sun’s Daughter and the Black Devil” has recently been released by the Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults (IIDCY) in Tehran. 

Iranian cineastes launch campaign to support flood-stricken children in Sistan-Baluchestan 

TEHRAN – The Iranian House of Cinema, which is the official guild of Iranian cineastes, has launched a campaign to support children in the flood-stricken region of Sistan-Baluchestan.

Martyr Soleimani’s military life subject of street theater at Fajr

TEHRAN – Iran’s General Office for Dramatic Arts announced on Monday that it will produce a street play, which will portray the military life of Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani.

Art Bureau to make doc on Martyr Soleimani’s affection for children 

TEHRAN – The Art Bureau for Children and Young Adults plans to portray Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani’s affection for children in a documentary film.

Fajr festival to honor 4 theater elites with lifetime achievement awards

TEHRAN – Four Iranian theater elites will be honored with lifetime achievement awards at the 38th Fajr International Theater Festival.

By Samaneh Aboutalebi

Iranian docs enrich international understanding of Iran: DocPoint exec 

TEHRAN – Kati Juurus, the artistic director of DocPoint – Helsinki Documentary Film Festival has said that the screening of Iranian documentaries in such international events can expand public understanding of Iranian society.

Shahrdad Rohani hopes Iranian music moves towards peace and friendship

TEHRAN – Tehran Symphony Orchestra conductor Shahrdad Rohani has expressed his hope that Iranian music moves towards peace and friendship after guest conductor Manuchehr Shabai’s remarks on Rohani provoked controversy during the Thursday performance at Vahdat Hall.

Iran examining 38 cities to pick as 2020 Book Capital

TEHRAN – Iran is scrutinizing 38 cities to select one for the 2020 Book Capital.

“The Orientalist” on Henry Corbin to premiere in Tehran

TEHRAN – Iranian director Masud Taheri’s documentary “The Orientalist” about French philosopher, theologian and orientalist Henry Corbin, will premiere at Eyvan Shams Hall in Tehran on Monday. 

Fajr Film Festival announces jury

TEHRAN – The organizers of the 38th Fajr Film Festival announced the jury for the documentary, short film, and New Look sections on Friday. 

International calligraphers join Iranians to select Yase Yasin winners

TEHRAN - Davut Bektas from Turkey, Obeida Mohammed Saleh Al Banki from Syria and Abdulridha Behiye al-Farjawi from Iraq have joined Iranian calligraphers Abodolsamad Haj Samadi and Mohammad Hosseini to select the best works in naskh and thulth styles of calligraphy in the Yase Yasin International Calligraphy Awards, the organizers have announced.

Culture minister praises Fajr music festival for good discipline

TEHRAN -- Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Seyyed Abbas Salehi has praised organizers of the 35th Fajr International Music Festival for their good planning and discipline.

Canadian writer Marie-Louise Gay’s “Any Questions?” published in Persian 

TEHRAN – Canadian children’s writer Marie-Louise Gay’s book “Any Questions?” has been published in Persian.

Book City to review essays by British poet Dick Davis

TEHRAN – A selection of British poet and translator Dick Davis’s essays about the translation of Persian classical poetry into English will be reviewed in a session at Tehran’s Book City Institute next week.

Berlinale to screen “Yalda”, “Selfie with Democracy”

TEHRAN – The Iranian films “Yalda, a Night for Forgiveness” and “Selfie with Democracy” will be screened during the 70th Berlin International Film Festival. 

DocPoint festival to hold documentarian Mehrdad Oskui retrospective

TEHRAN – DocPoint – Helsinki Documentary Film Festival will hold a retrospective of Iranian documentarian Mehrdad Oskui, the organizers have announced.

Iran's Farhad Hassanzadeh shortlisted for Hans Christian Andersen Award

TEHRAN – Iranian writer Farhad Hassanzadeh has received a nomination for the 2020 Hans Christian Andersen Award.

“Better than Neil Armstrong” director best at Pune film festival 

TEHRAN – Iranian filmmaker Alireza Qasemi has won the Best Live Action Short Film Director’s Award at the 18th Pune International Film Festival for his sci-fi “Better than Neil Armstrong”.

Iranian institute releases audiobooks of Azerbaijani poems, folktales   

TEHRAN – Avaye Chirok, a major Iranian institute that produces audiobooks, has released three books of Azerbaijani poetry folktales recited by Bahman Vakhshur.

By Samaneh Aboutalebi

Sureh-Mehr seeks to implement Leader’s guideline on translation movement  

TEHRAN – An official of Sureh-Mehr, a major publishing company affiliated with the Art Bureau, said on Monday that the company is seeking to implement Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei’s guideline for Iranian publishers on a translation movement.

By Manijeh Rezapoor

Iraqi musician Jehad says Tehran concert will reflect his native culture

TEHRAN – Iraqi oud virtuoso Moaana Jehad has said that his Tehran performance will give the Iranian audience a true reflection of Iraq’s ancient and profound culture.

Iraqi oud player Moaana Jehad to perform in Tehran 

TEHRAN – Iraqi oud virtuoso Moaana Jehad will be giving a performance at Tehran’s Rudaki Hall on January 26. 

Overseas musicians performing at Tehran Southern Nights festival

TEHRAN – A group of musicians from France, Austria, the Netherlands and Egypt has joined musicians from southern Iran in Tehran to perform during a three-day festival named “Southern Nights”.

University of Münster to set up Iranology department

TEHRAN – The Center for Islamic Theology at the University of Münster in Germany has announced its plan to establish a department for Iranian studies in 2021 in collaboration with Iran’s Islamic Culture and Relations Organization.

Iranian troupe to perform “Coriolanus” at Kerala theater festival  

TEHRAN – The Tehran Independent Theater Company will perform “Coriolanus” at the International Theater Festival of Kerala (ITFOK), which will be held in the Indian city of Thrissur from January 20 to 29.

U.S. troops injured in Iran missile attack subject of Shojaei’s cartoons

TEHRAN – Iranian cartoonist Masud Shojaei-Tabatabai, who also presides over Iran’s International Trumpism Cartoon and Caricature Contest, has created two cartoons on the U.S. service members who were injured in Iran’s January 8 missile attack on the U.S. Ain Al-Asad airbase in Iraq.

Hossein Zendehrudi’s “Voute Azurée” tops Tehran Auction 

TEHRAN – Hossein Zendehrudi’s painting “Voute Azurée” was the most expensive work sold at the 12th Tehran Auction on Friday as it fetched 32 billion rials (over $750,000).

Actor Shahab Hosseini criticizes cineastes over withdrawal from Fajr festival

TEHRAN – Shahab Hosseini, the star of Asghar Farhadi’s Oscar-winning movies “A Separation” and “The Salesman”, has criticized those Iranian cineastes who have withdrawn from the Fajr Film Festival.

By Seyyed Mostafa Mousavi Sabet

Mahmudi brothers gain Iran recognition for Afghan migrant filmmakers 

The Fajr Film Festival has announced that it will screen “To Die in the Pure Water”, a drama by Tehran-based Afghan brothers Navid and Jamshid Mahmudi, in the official competition of its 38th edition.

Kayhan Kalhor wins globalFEST Artist Award

TEHRAN – Celebrated Iranian kamancheh virtuoso Kayhan Kalhor won the Artist Award of the globalFEST, North America’s most important world music industry event, which was held in New York last week.