By Zahra Salimi

The sprit of the battle against evil

TEHRAN – An Indonesian film director says that everyone should pay attention to the message of Ashura.

Novel “Dry” on California drought published in Persian 

TEHRAN – A Persian translation of the novel “Dry” by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman has come to Iranian bookstores.

“Parizad” selected as best doc at Festival of Nations

TEHRAN – The 48th edition of the Festival of Nations, an international short film festival in Austria, has picked “Parizad” by Iranian filmmaker Mehdi Imani Shahmiri as best documentary.

Tragedy of Iraqi chemical attack on Sardasht fascinates Baikal film festival

TEHRAN – Iranian director Mohammad-Hossein Mahdavian’s drama “Walnut Tree” has won the Leonid Gaidai award for best feature at the 20th Baikal International Film Festival in Russia.

Stories from Sadi’s Gulistan published for Russian children 

TEHRAN – Stories from Persian poet Sheikh Muslih od-Din Sadi Shirazi’s masterpiece Gulistan (The Rose Garden) have been published for children in Russian in Moscow.

What’s in Tehran art galleries

* Sharif Gallery is playing host to an exhibition of paintings by Sayeh Mansur.

“I Won’t Remain Alone” named best short doc at Saratov Sufferings filmfest

TEHRAN – Iranian filmmaker Yaser Talebi’s “I Won’t Remain Alone” has won the award for best short documentary at the Saratov Sufferings International Film Festival of Documentary Drama in Russia.

Iranian, Russian centers to celebrate Fyodor Dostoevsky’s 200th birthday 

TEHRAN – Iran’s Book City Institute plans to celebrate the 200th birthday of Russian writer Fyodor Dostoevsky in collaboration with Russia’s Russkiy Mir Foundation.

Iranian Film Days feature war dramas for Azerbaijanis

TEHRAN – The Iranian Cultural Center in the Azerbaijani capital of Baku is organizing the Iranian Film Days by streaming a number of war dramas on YouTube.

“Sky Sun, Tile Sun” shines at Golden Beggar film festival

TEHRAN – Iranian short movie “Sky Sun, Tile Sun” has won the children’s jury award for the best animation at the 27th International Film Festival Golden Beggar in Slovakia.

Outsider Pictures signs rights to U.S., Canadian sales for Iranian drama “Pinto”

TEHRAN – Outsider Pictures, a sales and distribution company releasing films in the U.S. and Canada, has acquired rights to Iranian drama “Pinto” directed by Narges Abyar, Persian news media announced on Tuesday.

Belgian Iranologist Pierre Lecoq decorated with Mahmud Afshar Award

TEHRAN – Belgian Iranologist Pierre Lecoq has received Iran’s Mahmud Afshar Historical Literary Award.

Sadeq Ahangaran, “Khomeini’s nightingale”, releases his memoirs 

TEHRAN – Eulogist Sadeq Ahangaran, who was dubbed by the Iraqi state radio “Khomeini’s nightingale” during the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war, has recently released his memoirs.

“Writing the Talking Cure” appears in Persian

TEHRAN – A Persian translation of American scholar Jeffrey Berman’s book “Writing the Talking Cure: Irvin D. Yalom and the Literature of Psychotherapy” has come to the Iranian bookstores.

Iranian puppeteers to build “The House of Bernarda Alba” at Charleville-Mézières festival

TEHRAN – Yase Tamam, an Iranian puppetry group, will perform Garcia Lorca’s 1936 tragedy “The House of Bernarda Alba” at the 26th edition of the World Puppet Theatre Festival in the French city of Charleville-Mézières.

“Sun Children” crowned best at Zlin Film Festival

TEHRAN – Iranian drama “Sun Children” directed by Majid Majidi has won the Golden Slipper for best feature film in the junior category of the 61st edition of the Zlin Film Festival in Czech.

Art Bureau launches poetry congress to laud General Soleimani’s valor in war 

TEHRAN – The Art Bureau of the Islamic Ideology Dissemination Organization has launched a poetry congress to salute Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani for his valor during the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war.

“The First Stone” cast into Persian bookstores 

TEHRAN – Danish author Carsten Jensen’s novel “The First Stone” has been published in Persian.

Religion Today Film Festival picks nine movies from Iran

TEHRAN – A lineup of nine movies by Iranian filmmakers will be competing in the 24th edition of the Religion Today Film Festival.

Iran’s “White Clad” joins 2022 Oscars long list for shorts

TEHRAN – “White Clad” by Iranian director Reza Fahimi has been added to the long list of movies competing to receive a nomination for the best short film Oscar in 2022.

“Lost Whispers in the Distance” explores refugee misery in Europe 

TEHRAN – In his latest documentary “Lost Whispers in the Distance” Budapest-based Iranian filmmaker Mansur Foruzesh has turned the spotlight on the hard lives of refugees in Europe, particularly those who are Iranians.

Producer Elaheh Nobakht selected for jury of Religion Today Film Festival

TEHRAN – Elaheh Nobakht, the producer of the acclaimed Iranian documentary “Beloved”, has been selected as a member of the jury of the 24th edition of the Religion Today Film Festival.

Bookstores call Persian readers for “The Unthinkable Revolution”

TEHRAN – A Persian translation of “The Unthinkable Revolution in Iran” by Charles Kurzman, a professor of sociology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, has appeared in the Iranian bookstores.

Zeller’s “Lie” exposed at Neauphle-le-Château Theater

TEHRAN – French playwright Florian Zeller’s “The Lie” went on stage at the Neauphle-le-Chateau Theater in Tehran on Sunday.

Sapporo festival to screen shorts from Iran

TEHRAN – Seven movies by Iranian filmmakers will be screened at the 16th Sapporo International Short Film Festival and Market.

Lucy Foley’s “Guest List” published in Persian

TEHRAN – British writer Lucy Foley’s novel “The Guest List” has been published in Persian.

“Spring in Autumn” named best Ahora Es Corto festival

TEHRAN – Iranian short drama “Spring in Autumn” by Ghasideh Golmakani has been selected as best film at the Ahora Es Corto (Now It’s Short) International Film Festival in Spain.

Iranian artists honored at Croatian cartoon contest 

TEHRAN – Iranian cartoonists Majid Amini and Fakhreddin Doost-Mohammad have won the special prizes at the 16th Solin International Festival of Cartoon in Croatia.

National Day of Persian Poetry and Literature celebrated in Tabriz

TEHRAN – Groups of Iranian literati and cultural figures came together during a meeting at Maqbarat ush-Shoara (Cemetery Of Poets) in Tabriz on Friday evening to celebrate the National Day of Persian Poetry and Literature. 

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“Domus Eyes on Iran” explores “Persian Landscape” in new episode

The ninth episode of the “Domus Eyes on Iran” video-series, produced by the Italian Embassy in Tehran and the Italian Trade Agency in cooperation with the historic Milan-based architectural magazine Domus, was released yesterday at the residence of Italy’s Ambassador in Tehran, Giuseppe Perrone.