By Manijeh Rezapoor

“The Moon and the Sun” up at Tehran gallery reflects mesmerizing prints of Ossouli paintings 

TEHRAN – Celebrated Iranian painter Farah Ossouli has another surprise: this time with silkscreen prints of a collection of her original miniatures in a book titled “The Moon and the Sun”.

Naxos Records to release Ali Rahbari’s new album “My Mother Persia” next week 

TEHRAN – Naxos Records, a Hong Kong-based German record label specializing in classical music, is scheduled to release Iranian composer Ali (Alexander) Rahbari’s new album “My Mother Persia” on July 12. 

Tehran Auction grosses over $10 million, 65% of artworks sold at minimum prices 

TEHRAN – The Tehran Auction grossed over 420 billion rials (over $10 million, $1=42000 rials) during its 11th sale on Friday at the Parsian Hotel in Tehran as 65 percent of the artworks were sold at the minimum prices estimated.

Gyula Shakespeare Festival next stop for “Midsummer Night’s Dream”

TEHRAN – Iranian director Mostafa Kushki will be in Gyula, Hungary on July 14 to stage “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” at the Gyula Shakespeare Festival, the organizers have announced.

Kiarostami’s last intl. award donated to Film Museum of Iran

TEHRAN – Legendary Iranian filmmaker Abbas Kiarostami’s last international award was donated by his son, Bahman, to the Film Museum of Iran on Friday, which marked the third anniversary of his death, the museum announced. 

Golden Pen Awards held without winners except for poetry, research 

TEHRAN – The 17th Golden Pen Awards did not select any winners this year with the exception of those in the categories of adults’ poetry and research.

Kiarostami foundation restores movies for worldwide screenings

TEHRAN – The Abbas Kiarostami Foundation announced on Wednesday that it has completed the restoration of a large lineup of his films for screening worldwide. 

Imam Reza (AS) Intl. Festival to open in Qom

TEHRAN – The 17th edition of the Imam Reza (AS) International Festival will open tomorrow with the birthday celebration of Hazrat Masumeh (SA), the sister of the Imam (AS), at her holy shrine in Qom.

1st Kurdish Elites Congress held in Sanandaj

TEHRAN – Sanandaj, the capital of the western Iranian province of Kordestan, played host to the 1st Kurdish Elites Congress on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Tehran theater to host “Hedda Gabler”

TEHRAN – A reading of Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen’s 1891 play “Hedda Gabler” will be performed at Tehran’s Mehregan Theater on Saturday. 

“Big Strange Uncle” honors Persian translator of Shel Silverstein’s books Razi Hirmandi

TEHRAN – Razi Hirmandi, the Iranian translator of books by American children’s book writer Shel Silverstein, was honored during the first performance of the play “My Little Big Strange Uncle” in Tehran on Monday.

Iranian writer Ali-Asghar Seyyedabadi nominated for IBBY-iRead award

TEHRAN – Iranian writer Ali-Asghar Seyyedabadi has been nominated for the IBBY-iRead Outstanding Reading Promoter Award, the Children’s Book Council of Iran announced on Tuesday.

“Room 1216” to be set up in memory of Iran Air Flight 655 victims

TEHRAN – A troupe that will be helmed by director Ali Borji is scheduled to perform a reading of Keyvan Sabbagh’s play “Room 1216” in memory of the victims of Iran Air Flight 655, which was shot down by USS Vincennes on July 3, 1988.

Filmmaker delves into life of father of Iranian circus  

TEHRAN – Iranian director Maryam Oslubi is making a documentary about Khalil Tariqatpeyma, a former circus performer who is considered to be the father of Iranian circus, Iran’s Documentary and Experimental Film Center announced on Monday. 

Golden Pen Awards unveils nominees

TEHRAN – Eight books have received nominations at the 17th Golden Pen Awards, the organizers announced on Monday.

By Mohsen Mohammadi

Charles-Henri de Fouchecour made honorary member of Persian literature academy

TEHRAN – French Orientalist and Hafez expert Charles- Henri de Fouchecour has been selected for honorary membership in the Academy of Persian Language and Literature.

Belgian choreographic platform GRIP to perform “Being” in Iranian cities

TEHRAN – Tehran’s Neauphle-le-Chateau Theater announced on Sunday that the Belgian choreographic platform GRIP will be at the theater on July 7 to give a performance titled “Being” for three nights.

Reza Mirkarimi on Golden Apricot filmfest jury

TEHRAN – Iranian filmmaker Reza Mirkarimi who is also the director of Iran’s Fajr International Film Festival has been selected for the jury of the 16th edition of the Golden Apricot Yerevan International Film Festival in Armenia, the Persian service of ISNA reported on Sunday.

Singer Mohammad Motamedi says U.S. sanctions hit medical treatment in Iran 

TEHRAN – Iranian vocalist Mohammad Motamedi has said that due to the U.S. sanctions on Iran, doctors in the country are struggling with a critical shortage of specialized drugs and medical instruments to treat their patients.

Sculptor Nasser Hushmand-Vaziri dies at 73

TEHRAN – Sculptor Nasser Hushmand-Vaziri died of a heart attack on Friday, he was 73, the Association of Iranian Sculptors announced.

80 artworks to be sold at Tehran Auction July 5

TEHRAN – A collection of 80 artworks will be offered for sale during the 11th edition of the Tehran Auction, which is dedicated to modern and contemporary Iranian art, on July 5.

Top Iranian photojournalists honored 

TEHRAN – Winners of the Third Iran Press Photo Awards were honored during a special ceremony at the Iranian Artists Forum on Thursday.

Iran’s “Little Narrators” to explore effects of weapons of mass destruction 

TEHRAN – “Little Narrators”, an exhibition of children’s paintings that will open in Sardasht on Friday, intends to attract visitors’ attention to the long-term effects of weapons of mass destruction.

King of Iran’s eulogists Salim Moazzenzadeh Ardebili’s style wins national heritage status

TEHRAN – The performance style of Iran’s icon of Islamic eulogy, Salim Moazzenzadeh Ardebili, was made a National Intangible Cultural Heritage item on Tuesday.

Iran to organize art exhibition on downed U.S. drone

TEHRAN – The Art Bureau of the Islamic Ideology Dissemination Organization in Tehran will organize an exhibition of posters and cartoons on the U.S. drone that was shot down by Iran last week.

Iranian, French academic centers to hold summer school in Tehran 

TEHRAN – The Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning of Tehran’s University of Art and the École Nationale Supérieure d'architecture de Clermont-Ferrand (ENSACF), a major French architectural school, will be holding a joint summer school in Tehran.

COI congratulates “Castle of Dreams” crew on Shanghai festival win

TEHRAN – Cinema Organization of Iran director Hossein Entezami has congratulated the crew of director Reza Mirkarimi’s drama “Castle of Dreams” on its win at the 22nd Shanghai International Film Festival.

Video game “Dark Summer” on MKO’s reign of terror released

TEHRAN – A computer game titled “Twilight: Dark Summer” on the assassinations and bombings by the Mojahedin-e-Khalq Organization (MKO) in Iran during summer 1981 was released in Tehran on Tuesday.

South Korea’s SICAF picks movies from Iran 

TEHRAN – Eight movies from Iranian filmmakers will be competing in the Seoul International Cartoon and Animation Festival (SICAF), which will take place in the South Korean capital during July, the organizers have announced.

Iranian drama “Castle of Dreams” scoops awards at Shanghai festival 

TEHRAN – Iranian director Reza Mirkarimi’s drama “Castle of Dreams” has won three main honors of the 22nd Shanghai International Film Festival, including the Golden Goblet Award for the best film.