Varesh festival to review films from Azerbaijan 

TEHRAN – A lineup of eight movies from Azerbaijani filmmakers will be reviewed at the 9th Varesh Short Film Festival, the organizers announced on Monday.

“The Gourmet” published in Persian

TEHRAN – Chinese writer Lu Wenfu’s 1988 novella “The Gourmet” has recently been published in Persian by Qoqnus Publications in Tehran. 

“Willow Tree”, “Children of Heaven” to screen at SUFISIN festival in Konya

TEHRAN – Iranian Oscar-nominated director Majid Majidi’s films “The Willow Tree” and “Children of Heaven” will go on screen at the 2nd SUFISIN-Sufi Cinema Days in Konya, Turkey, the organizers have announced.

“Sunday in Budapest” offers selection of Latin American poetry in Persian

TEHRAN – The Iranian publishing company Anima has published a book titled “Sunday in Budapest”, which contains a selection of poems from Latin American writers. 

Doc to chronicle history of motorcycle in Iran 

TEHRAN – Director Farahnaz Sharifi plans to study the history of the motorcycle in Iran in a documentary, which will be produced by Hamid Qezlu.

“Getting to Know China” at Tehran Intl. Book Fair

TEHRAN – China will attend the 32nd Tehran International Book Fair as the guest of honor with the motto of “Getting to Know China”, the organizers announced on Monday.

By Manijeh Rezapoor

Iranian cinema captures reality of life: Italian cinematographer Luca Bigazzi 

TEHRAN – Italian cinematographer Luca Bigazzi has said that talking about the reality of life is one of the main characteristics of Iranian movies.

What’s in Tehran art galleries

* Sets of installation by Melisa Valipur are currently on display in an exhibit at Saless Gallery.

Iranian photographer Adel Pazyar wins Phodar Biennial Grand Prize

TEHRAN – Iranian photographer Adel Pazyar has won the Grand Prize of the 10th International Phodar Biennial, a photography competition in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Iran celebrates Sadi National Day in Shiraz 

TEHRAN – Persian literature aficionados and literati from across Iran came together at the mausoleum of Persian poet Sadi in Shiraz on Sunday to celebrate Sadi National Day.

Indonesia’s TVRI CEO Helmy Yahya visits Tehran 

TEHRAN – Helmy Yahya, the director of Televisi Republik Indonesia (TVRI), a state-owned public broadcasting television network in Indonesia, arrived in Tehran on Saturday to meet Cinema Organization of Iran (COI) director Hossein Entezami. 

“City of Love” star Forugh Qojabegli named best actress at Beijing Intl. Film Festival

TEHRAN – Forugh Qojabegli has been selected as best actress for her role in Iranian filmmaker Ali Jaberansari’s drama “Tehran: City of Love” at the 9th Beijing International Film Festival, the organizers announced on Saturday.

By Manijeh Rezapoor

I know Iranian cinema through Kiarostami films: German editor Hansjorg Weissbrich

TEHRAN – German film editor Hansjorg Weissbrich has said that he is familiar with Iranian cinema through films by legendary filmmaker Abbas Kiarostami’s movies.

Iran’s modern art pioneer Monir Farmanfarmaian dies at 97

TEHRAN – Monir Shahrudi Farmanfarmaian, a modern art pioneer in Iran who was famous for her mirror mosaics and geometric drawings, died from old age at her home in Tehran on Saturday night. She was 97.

Iranian graphic designer Aidin Arjomandi misses judging Adobe awards due to U.S. sanctions 

TEHRAN – Iranian graphic designer Aidin Arjomandi stated that he had to forego judging at the 2019 Adobe Design Achievement Awards (ADAA) due to sanctions imposed on Iran by the Trump administration.

Slawomir Mrozek’s “Tailor” coming to Tehran theater

TEHRAN – Mohammadreza Khaki plans to stage a reading performance of Polish dramatist Slawomir Mrozek’s “The Tailor” in Tehran on Saturday.

Iran launches video news agency 

TEHRAN – Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) has launched an English-Arabic video news agency titled “Iran Press”, which covers stories in Iran and the Middle East.

Cartoonists to raise funds for Iran flood survivors

TEHRAN – The Iranian House of Cartoon will organize an exhibition to raise funds for victims of Iran’s recent floods.

Armenian-language drama “Yeva” to hit silver screens in Tehran

TEHRAN – A number of Tehran theaters will begin tomorrow screening Iranian director Anahid Abad’s Armenian-language drama “Yeva” in the original language with Persian subtitles.

Iranian movies line up for Sofia animation festival

TEHRAN – Nine short movies by Iranian animators will be competing in the 10th Golden Kuker International Animation Festival in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Tehran Book City to host session on German literature

TEHRAN – Contemporary German literature will be scrutinized during a session titled “Three Lands, One Language” at the Book City Institute in Tehran on April 23. 

Leader’s commendation for “Waiting for the Red Rose” published

TEHRAN – The Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, has written a commendation for “Waiting for the Red Rose”, Mohsen Momeni-Sharif’s biography of martyr Ali Sayyad Shirazi, a regular military officer who served as commander of Ground Forces during the Iran–Iraq war.

Tehran Intl. Book Fair seeks to boost Iran’s cultural diplomacy: organizer 

TEHRAN – The director of the 32nd Tehran International Book Fair said on Wednesday that the fair seeks to improve Iran’s cultural diplomacy.

Divan of Hafez published in Arabic

TEHRAN – A versified Arabic translation of the Divan of Hafez has been recently published in Tehran.

Italian pianist Olaf John Laneri to perform in Tehran

TEHRAN – Italian pianist Olaf John Laneri will give performances at Tehran’s Rudaki Hall on April 24 and 26, Iran’s Rudaki Foundation announced on Tuesday.

Kheimeh shab-bazi master Morteza Khamsei dies at 82

TEHRAN – The kheimeh shab-bazi master Morteza Khamsei died of a heart disease on Tuesday. He was 82.

Persian Gulf scholar Ahmad Eqtedari dies at 94

TEHRAN – Iranian scholar Ahmad Eqtedari who is considered as the father of Persian Gulf studies died from complications of pelvis surgery at Tehran’s Asia Hospital on Tuesday. He was 94.

Tehran City Council approves to rename streets after veteran artists

TEHRAN – The Tehran City Council approved on Tuesday to rename several streets after contemporary Iranian artists. 

“Damascus Time” director Ebrahim Hatamikia named Islamic Revolution Artist of the Year

TEHRAN – Ebrahim Hatamikia, director of the acclaimed movie “Damascus Time”, was picked as the Islamic Revolution Artist of the Year on Monday.

By Manijeh Rezapoor

37th Fajr Intl. Film Festival to open with 1990 war drama “The Scout”

TEHRAN – The 37th Fajr International Film Festival will open tonight at Tehran’s Felestin Cinema with Ebrahim Hatamikia’s 1990 war drama, “The Scout”.