TEHRAN -- The winners of the Persian Literary Masterpieces Illustration Festival were announced here at Tehran’s Niavaran Cultural Center on Tuesday.

A total of 85 illustrations featuring Rumi’s “Ghazaliat of Shams” and 169 illustrations for children depicting the parables of Rumi’s Masnavi were put on display for one week.
In the closing ceremony, festival secretary Kianush Gharibpur said that Iran’s art of illustration is in good shape, and the festival helped young illustrators become more familiar with the classic illustrators of Persian literary masterpieces.
Nushafarin Ansari of the managing board of the Iranian Association of Children’s Book Illustrators also spoke at the closing ceremony.
Ansari expressed hope that the festival would be made an international event, saying, “This would help us invite world masters of illustration to come to Iran and share their experiences with young Iranian artists.”
Afterwards, the jury announced the winners.
In the children’s section, Rastin Kheirieh, Hesameddin Tabatabaii, Atefeh Malekiju, and Marjan Vafaiian received honorary diplomas.
Hoda Haddadi and Sahar Haqgu shared the award in the “Ghazaliat of Shams” section.
In the Masnavi illustration section, the grand prize went to Mahsa Tusi, the gold plaque went to Farshid Shafiei, and the silver plaque went to Raheleh Barkhordari.
In the adults’ illustration section, Reza Lavasani won the first prize, and Mahkameh Shabani and Maneli Manuchehri shared the silver plaque.
The festival was cosponsored by the Children’s Book Council of Iran, the Iranian Women Artists’ Forum (IWAF), and the Iranian Association of Children’s Book Illustrators