Iran’s National Orchestra releases “Song of Humanity” in honor of health workers

TEHRAN – Iran’s National Orchestra has released a music video titled “Song of Humanity” to acknowledge the efforts the medical staff have made in the battle with the coronavirus.

Palestinian film events seek better ties with Iran Resistance festival  

TEHRAN – The organizers of the 16th edition of the Resistance International Film Festival have said that some Palestinian film events are seeking better ties with the Iranian festival.

Actress Mahchehreh Khalili dies at 44 

TEHRAN – Actress Mahchehreh Khalili, star of Iranian TV series such as “Mokhtarnameh” and “The Pahlavi Hat” and acclaimed movie “Wishbone”, has died of liver cancer in London. She was 44.

Vocalist Amir-Reza Heravi releases debut album with Czech orchestra 

TEHRAN – Iranian vocalist Amir-Reza Heravi released his debut album “Sobhe Khialangiz” (“Dreamy Morning”) recorded with the Prague Metropolitan Philharmonic Orchestra, the Persian service of IRNA reported on Wednesday.

Iranian docs competing in Ierapetra festival 

TEHRAN – Iranian films “Kiarostami and His Missing Cane” and “The Little Plant” are competing in the 7th International Documentary Festival of Ierapetra in Greece.

Ghadir naqqali festival announced winners

TEHRAN – Winners of the fourth edition of the Ghadir Naqqali and Pardekhani Festival were honored during a ceremony at the courtyard of Namayesh Radio in Tehran.

“Returning” wins big at Sarv Theater Awards

TEHRAN – “Returning” was the big winner at the 1st edition of the Sarv Theater Awards as it garnered honors in several categories including best play.

John Bolton’s White House memoir rendered into Persian

TEHRAN – “The Room Where It Happened: A White House Memoir” written by John Bolton, President Trump’s former National Security Advisor, has been translated into Persian.

Resistance festival receives over 370 submissions to “Health Defenders” category

TEHRAN – The Resistance International Film Festival has so far received 372 submissions from around the world to “Health Defenders”, the organizers announced on Tuesday.

Kayhan Kalhor’s online concert postponed over technical issues

TEHRAN – Kamancheh virtuoso Kayhan Kalhor’s fans and music aficionados have to wait a day for his free of charge, online concert, which was postponed due to technical problems on Monday a few hours before its performance.  

By Seyyed Mostafa Mousavi Sabet 

Actor Faramarz Qaribian to receive lifetime achievement honor at Hafez Awards

TEHRAN – Actor Faramarz Qaribian will be honored for his lifetime achievements at the 20th edition of the Hafez Awards.

Kashan named capital of Nahj-ul-Balaghah of Imam Ali (AS)

TEHRAN – The Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance has selected the central Iranian city of Kashan, famous for its rosewater and historical monuments, as the capital of the Nahj-ul-Balaghah of Imam Ali (AS).

Pakistani publisher acquires rights to “Kiss the Lovely Face of God”

TEHRAN – A Pakistani publisher has acquired the rights to the Urdu translation of the bestselling Persian novel “Kiss the Lovely Face of God”.

Georgian scholar Murman Tavdishvili novelizes life story of Persian poet Ferdowsi  

TEHRAN – Iran’s Islamic Culture and Relations Organization announced on Monday that Georgian scholar Murman Tavdishvili has authored the life story of Ferdowsi, the composer of the Persian epic masterpiece Shahnameh.

“The Messiah” director Nader Talebzadeh tests positive for COVID-19

TEHRAN – Cinema Organization of Iran director Hossein Entezami said on Sunday that Nader Talebzadeh, director of the TV series “The Messiah”, has contracted COVID-19.

Kayhan Kalhor to perform “Silence City” online, free of charge

TEHRAN – Iranian kamancheh virtuoso Kayhan Kalhor plans to perform an online concert, which will feature tracks from “Silent City”, an album he produced in 2008 along with New York City-based string quartet, Brooklyn Rider.

Tokyo to host 3rd Iranian Film Festival 

TEHRAN – The 3rd Iranian Film Festival in Tokyo will open in Minato City on August 10 by screening “Villa Dwellers”, Monir Qeidi’s debut feature film on the Iran-Iraq 1980-1988 war.

Rastak sings “They Say…” in honor of Armenian community in Iran  

TEHRAN – Prolific Iranian ensemble Rastak has recorded a single named “They Say…” in honor of the Armenian community in Iran.

Afghan writer’s book “Atashgah” on Soviet war published in Iran 

TEHRAN – Ahmad Modaqeq, the Afghan author of the acclaimed novel “Russian Songs”, has published in Iran his new story “Atashgah” about the Soviet war in Afghanistan.

“Bride of Fire” director Khosro Sinai dies from coronavirus

TEHRAN – Khosro Sinai, director of acclaimed Iranian drama “Bride of Fire” and several documentary films, succumbed in his battle with COVID-19 and died at Tehran’s Amir Alam Hospital on Saturday. He was 79. 

Iran’s “Diapason” scoops awards at AVANCA festival

TEHRAN – Iranian director Hamed Tehrani’s drama “Diapason” has been the big winner of the 24th International Film Festival AVANCA, the organizers have announced.

Photographer Ahmad Khatiri honored at Italian competition

TEHRAN – Iranian photographer Ahmad Khatiri has been awarded an honorable mention at a contest organized by the Gruppo Operativo Fotografico Ascoli Piceno – GOFAP (Ascoli Piceno Photographic Operational Group) in Italy.

Celluloid Dreams handles global sales for “Sun Children”

TEHRAN – Celluloid Dreams, a major French film production and distribution company, is handling international sales for Iranian director Majid Majidi’s drama “Sun Children”, Variety announced last week.

Afghan sculptor Alikhan Abdollahi to showcase collection at Tehran gallery

TEHRAN – Artibition Gallery in Tehran is scheduled to showcase a collection by Afghan sculptor Alikhan Abdollahi in an exhibition opening on Friday.

Overseas cineastes welcome Iran’s Resistance film festival

TEHRAN – The organizers of the Resistance International Film Festival have announced that the 16th edition of the event has been warmly welcomed internationally as they have received over 1200 submissions from filmmakers from around the world.

National library purchases rare Shahnameh manuscript 

TEHRAN – The National Library and Archives of Iran (NLAI) has recently purchased a rare manuscript copy of Persian poet Ferdowsi’s epic masterpiece Shahnameh that is considered the most unabridged and perfect version ever found.

Organizer says drive-in cinema not welcome in Iran

TEHRAN – The director of the drive-in movie theater project in the provinces of Tehran and Alborz, Manuchehr Safarkhani, has said that the project has not been welcomed by filmgoers and will probably be halted by the end of August. 

Arab publishers acquire rights to children’s book from Iran 

TEHRAN – Several Arab publishing houses have purchased rights to ten books published by Iran’s Institute for Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults (IIDCYA).

Venice Film Festival picks three movies from Iran

TEHRAN – Iranian movies “Sun Children”, “Careless Crime” and “The Wasteland” have been selected to be screened at the Venice Film Festival as the organizers announced the lineup for the 77th edition of the Italian event, which will take place on the Italian Lido from September 2 to 12.

Teer Art Fair 2020 goes online 

TEHRAN – The third edition of the Teer Art Fair, an art exhibit co-founded by the Dastan Basement Gallery and Asar Gallery, opened on Monday with this year’s exhibition going online due to the coronavirus pandemic.