Hot Docs to screen Iranian documentaries

TEHRAN-Three Iranian movies will be screened at the Hot Docs, a major Canadian international documentary festival, which is scheduled to be held online from April 29 to May 9 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We Are Here We Are Close” to compete in Fajr Intl. Film Festival

TEHRAN-Renowned Ukrainian-Armenian filmmaker Roman Balayan’s 2020 movie “We Are Here We Are Close” will be screened in the official competition of the 38th Fajr International Film Festival, the organizers have announced.

Documentary on vocalist Mohammadreza Shajarian produced

TEHRAN-Iranian filmmaker Keyvan Mehregan has made a documentary on legendary vocalist Mohammadreza Shajarian, who passed away last October at 80, years after suffering from kidney cancer.

“Sky Sun, Tile Sun” competing in London Kurdish Film Festival

TEHRAN-Iranian director Ziba Arjang’s short animation “Sky Sun, Tile Sun” is on screen at the 12th edition of the London Kurdish Film Festival, which is currently underway virtually in the UK capital, ILNA reported on Monday.

Animation series on Persian poet Sadi’s Bustan produced

TEHRAN-An animation series based on the tales of the 13th-century Iranian poet Sadi’s major work Bustan has been produced by the IRIB’s Fars provincial channel, ISNA reported on Tuesday.

Iranian Film Festival Australia to open with “TiTi”

TEHRAN- “TiTi” by Ida Panahandeh will open the 10th edition of the Iranian Film Festival Australia (IFFA) in Perth on May 20, the organizers have announced. 

“Journey in Blue” comes to Iranian bookstores

TEHRAN-A Persian translation of Danish writer Stig Dalager’s “Journey in Blue: A Novel about Hans Christian Andersen” has recently been published by Saless Publications in Tehran.

Maryland film festival to screen Iran’s “The Badger”

TEHRAN - “The Badger” by Iranian director Kazem Mollai will be competing at the Maryland Film Festival, which will be held in the U.S. city of Baltimore from May 19 to 27.

Australian website praises ‘another gem from Iranian cinema’

TEHRAN - MercatorNet, an Australian website promoting the family and human dignity, has praised Iranian director Mohammadreza Kheradmandan’s two-minute movie “Thursday Appointment”, calling it ‘another gem from Iranian cinema’.

American festival picks Iranian shorts

TEHRAN-Iranian shorts “Ava’s Silence” and “Recreation” will compete at the 54th edition of the Humboldt International Film Festival, which will open today in the U.S. county. 

“Butterfly Swimming” leads Iran’s box office

TEHRAN-Mohammad Kart’s directorial debut “Butterfly Swimming” has hit a new record at Iranian box offices for online screening by grossing over 40 billion rials (over $950,000 at the official exchange rate of 42,000 rials per dollar), Honaronline reported on Sunday.

Iran–China cultural ties drastically increased after Islamic Revolution: professor

TEHRAN - In a press interview, Persian language and literature professor Hassan Zolfaghari has said that the cultural cooperation between Iran and China has increased drastically after the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Iran’s “Weekend” named best at ÉCU film festival

TEHRAN-Iranian director Ario Motevaqeh’s latest movie “Weekend” won the Best Non-European Independent Dramatic Short Award at the ÉCU — The European Independent Film Festival, which was held in Paris last week.

Rotterdam film festival picks four Iranian films

TEHRAN-A lineup of four Iranian films will go on screen in different sections of the 50th edition of the International Film Festival Rotterdam, the organizers have announced.

Photos of Gen. Soleimani mourners, former traceur from Iran among World Press Photo Awards’ winners

TEHRAN- Images of a former traceur and mourning ceremony for General Qassem Soleimani by Iranian photographers won prizes at the 2021 World Press Photo Awards, the organizers announced during an online award ceremony on Friday.

Actor Mohsen Qazi-Moradi dies at 80

TEHRAN –Iranian actor Mohsen Qazi-Moradi died at his home in Tehran at the age of 80 on Wednesday, his wife actress Mahvash Vaqari announced.

By Mohammad Araghi

Most popular festivals that reflect Iran’s cultural spirit 

TEHRAN - In order to promote the rich Iranian culture, we have explored the most popular Iranian festive and commemorative events by going on a journey into the Iranian world of religious spirituality and cultural entertainment.

“Radiograph of a Family” to compete in Krakow film festival 

TEHRAN –“Radiograph of a Family”, a co-production of Norway, Iran, and Switzerland by Firuzeh Khosrovani will go on screen at the International Documentary Competition at the 61st Krakow Film Festival.

What’s in Tehran art galleries

Note: Some of the following art exhibitions are being organized online in order to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus.

“White Winged Horse” leads nominations at ISFA Awards

TEHRAN – Iranian director Mahyar Mandegar’s “White Winged Horse” received nominations in eight categories, including best film and best director, at the 11th edition of the Iranian Short Film Association (ISFA) Awards, the organizers announced on Monday.

312 Iranian films submitted to Fajr Intl. Film Festival

TEHRAN- A total of 312 productions have been submitted to the 38th annual Fajr International Film Festival, which is scheduled to be held from May 21 to June 2 in Tehran, with Iranian filmmaker Mohammad Mehdi Asgarpur as the director.

Iranian writer Mahmud Dowlatabadi’s novel “Kelidar” published in Balochi

TEHRAN – Iranian writer Mahmud Dowlatabadi’s monumental 3,000-page saga “Kelidar” has recently been published in Balochi.

Paulo Coelho praises Iranian village for naming alleys after masterpieces of world literature

TEHRAN – Paulo Coelho, Brazilian writer who is immensely popular among Persian readers, has praised an Iranian village for naming its alleys after the masterpieces of world literature. 

“Doctor Nice” introduced to Iranian children 

TEHRAN – Children’s book writer Valeri Gorbachev’s “Doctor Nice” has been published in Persian.

“Apostasy” writer Vahid Yaminpur crowned Islamic Revolution Artist of the Year 

TEHRAN – Author Vahid Yaminpur was named on Monday the Islamic Revolution Artist of the Year.

“The Wasteland” crowned best at Hong Kong film festival

TEHRAN –“The Wasteland” by Iranian director Ahmad Bahrami received the Firebird Award for the best film in the main section of the 45th edition of the Hong Kong International Film Festival on Sunday.

Iran’s “Holy Bread” to compete in Trento film festival

TEHRAN –“Holy Bread”, a documentary by late Iranian director Rahim Zabihi, will go on screen at the main section of the 69th edition of the Trento Film Festival, which will open in the Italian city on April 30. 

“Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard” comes into Iranian bookstores

TEHRAN – Indian writer Kiran Desai’s 1998 novel “Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard” has been published in Persian in Tehran.

“Samak the Ayyar” published in English

TEHRAN – “Samak the Ayyar: A Tale of Ancient Persia”, one of the old Iranian stories, has been published in English.