TEHRAN -- On the occasion of Cinema Day Iranian actors and actresses were honored in a ceremony at Tehran's Kar Cultural Center.

Speaking at the ceremony, the director of the center, Ramazan Lotfi, said that the event aims to honor the art of cinema and the great artists who have endured many hardships.

He added that the center along with the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs and the Cultural and Artistic Organization of Tehran Municipality plans to carry out measures in order to solve the problem of unemployment among actors.

Some of the artists talked about cinema and its problems.

Actor Behzad Farahani said that cinematic figures confront many troubles in order to make films and it is our duty to support those active in the field of cinema.

"Cinema was not known in the past and people did not welcome it much. Now after many years it has become only a little more familiar to many people.

We must try to help the art find its proper place in society", Seyed Zia-eddin Dorri said.

Actress Fakhri Khorvash stated that art has a beautiful appearance, but also has many problems, so only those in love with their profession are able to bear the difficulties.

Theater actor Abdollah Karimi said that, unfortunately, theater was never considered an art and people active in the field are unknown.

At the end of the ceremony the artists were awarded prizes.