Update

Iranian pop star Behnam Safavi dies of cancer complications at 36

TEHRAN – Iranian pop star Behnam Safavi died on Monday at the age of 36 after a nearly four-year battle with brain cancer.

Mohammad Fahimi on panel of Krakow Film Festival

TEHRAN – Iranian filmmaker Mohammad Fahimi has been selected for the jury of the short film competition at the 59th Krakow Film Festival, the organizers have announced.

Iranian troupe to perform play on loneliness after migration at Canadian festival 

TEHRAN – An Iranian troupe is scheduled to perform a play titled “Absence/Presence” about the feelings loneliness coming over migrants during the 4th Windsor-Walkerville Fringe Festival in Canada, the organizers have announced.

Annecy festival adds more movies to its Iranian lineup

TEHRAN – “Starvation” and “Trailer” have joined a lineup of Iranian movies, which will compete in the Annecy International Animated Film Festival and Market in France, the organizers have announced.

Alma Monshibaghan wins PSA medal at NYC Manhattan Exhibition

TEHRAN – Iranian photographer Alma Monshibaghan has won the bronze award of the Photographic Society of America (PSA) at the NYC Manhattan Exhibition, the organizers have recently announced.

Cartoonist Alireza Pakdel finishes first at Kosovar contest

TEHRAN – Iranian cartoonist Alireza Pakdel has won the Golden Hithi Award at the 1st Ferizaj International Cartoon Contest in Kosovo, the organizers announced on Friday. 

Intl. Holy Quran Exhibition kicks off in Tehran 

TEHRAN – Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Abbas Salehi in company with a number of cultural officials opened the 27th International Holy Quran Exhibition at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Mosalla on Saturday.

Iranian children from flood-hit regions competing in Barbara Petchenik map contest

TEHRAN – Paintings by six Iranian children from the flood-hit regions have been selected to be sent to the Barbara Petchenik Children’s Map Competition 2019 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, the Iran National Cartographic Center announced on Thursday.

“Creditors”, “When the Doves Disappeared” on stage at Tehran theaters

TEHRAN – Swedish playwright August Strindberg’s “Creditors” and Finnish writer Sofi Oksanen’s “When the Doves Disappeared” are currently on stage at Tehran theaters.

Posters challenge Trump’s declaration of Al-Quds as capital of Israel 

TEHRAN – A collection of posters created during an international workshop in the northeastern Iranian city of Mashhad challenge U.S. President Donald Trump’s declaration of Al-Quds as the capital of Israel.

Hot Docs audience impressed by Iran’s “Beloved” 

TEHRAN – Iranian filmmaker Yasser Talebi’s documentary “Beloved” has taken first place among the top five mid-length films selected by audience votes at the Hot Docs festival in Canada, Toronto, the organizers have announced.

Plays by Iranian writers published in Armenian

TEHRAN – Ten plays by Iranian writers have been published in Armenian in a book titled “Contemporary Iranian Plays”, the Iranian Theater Forum announced on Tuesday.

Bauhaus University to celebrate centenary with workshops in Isfahan

TEHRAN – A team of artists and graphic designers from Bauhaus University Weimar, will be in Isfahan next week to celebrate the centenary of the famous German art school by organizing several workshops in the central Iranian city.

Tehran photo exhibit to explore Ramadan in Afghanistan 

TEHRAN – Photos by Afghan photographer Mohammad-Musa Akbari and his daughter, Fatemeh, about daily life in Afghanistan during the holy month of Ramadan will be showcased in an exhibition at Tehran’s Niavaran Cultural Center on Friday. 

Tehran Municipality removes bust of Jamshid Mashayekhi for corrections

TEHRAN – The bust of Jamshid Mashayekhi has been removed for corrections, the Tehran Municipality announced on Tuesday, just four days after its installation.

GAA Foundation to display works by Iranian sculptor in Venice 

TEHRAN – Two sculptures by Iranian artist Masud Akhavanjam are scheduled to be put on display by the Global Art Affairs Foundation in Venice alongside the Venice Biennale this year.

Top artists of mental health photography contest honored

TEHRAN – The organizers of the 5th Mental Health International Exhibition of Photography announced the winners in the categories of open and mental health during a ceremony at the Zanjan University of Medical Sciences on Sunday. 

Veteran Iranian artists get lifetime awards

TEHRAN – The Iranian Theater Forum honored eight veteran artists for their lifetime achievements during the closing ceremony of the Iran Theater Week at the Milad Tower on Sunday.

Tehran Ariana Gallery gets warning over Tahmineh Milani exhibition 

TEHRAN – Ariana Gallery, a major art center in Tehran, has received an official warning over organizing an exhibition of paintings by the renowned Iranian filmmaker Tahmiah Milani who was accused of plagiarism again in her second exhibition.

Iranian director to expose Florian Zeller’s “Lie” in Tehran

TEHRAN – Iranian director Saqi Atai plans to stage French playwright Florian Zeller’s “The Lie” in Tehran in the near future.

“Dreamland” scoops awards at Iran’s university theater festival

TEHRAN – Iranian director Morteza Jalilidoost’s play “Dreamland” has scooped the main awards, including best play, at the 22nd International Iranian Festival of University Theater.

“Street Performer of Manhattan” star Mikail Shahrestani tops at stage actors celebration

TEHRAN – Mikail Shahrestani, the actor of “The Street Performer of Manhattan” was honored with the special award of the 16th Iranian Stage Actors Celebration on Saturday.

Filmmaker Ali Donyavi Saravi wins Davud Rashidi Award

TEHRAN – Filmmaker Ali Donyavi Saravi was honored with the Davud Rashidi Award on Friday.

Bust of actor Jamshid Mashayekhi set up in Tehran

TEHRAN – The Tehran Municipality has set up a bust of veteran actor Jamshid Mashayekhi near his house in the Velenjak neighborhood.

32nd Tehran Intl. Book Fair wraps up 

TEHRAN – The 32nd Tehran International Book Fair, which opened on April 24 with the slogan “Reading Is Ability” at the Imam Khomeini Mosalla, came to an end on Saturday.

Iranian director deems “Medea” reverence for women 

TEHRAN – Iranian stage director Ali-Asghar Rasekh-rad who staged “Medea” during the 22nd International Iranian Festival of University Theater in Tehran on Friday said that the play shows a certain reverence for mothers and women.

Persian version of R.G. Grant’s “Flight” introduced at Tehran book fair    

TEHRAN – Havanavard, an Iranian publisher of books on air and space, introduced a Persian translation of British historian A.G. Grant’s “Flight: The Complete History of Aviation” by Mohammad Razzazan at the 32nd Tehran International Book Fair on Thursday.

By Samaneh Aboutalei

Lack of copyright, big obstacle for Iranian publishers of translated books 

TEHRAN – Several major Iranian publishers have said the lack of copyright is a major problem in the way to publish translated books.

“Lotus” director Mohammadreza Vatandoost honored at Beirut festival

TEHRAN – Mohammadreza Vatandoost from Iran was selected as best director for his acclaimed documentary “Lotus” at the 18th Beirut International Film Festival, the organizers announced on Sunday. 

South Korean ambassador, Iranian deputy culture minister meet  

TEHRAN – South Korean Ambassador Ryu Jeong-Hyun met the Iranian deputy culture Minister for Cultural Affair, Mohsen Javadi, on Wednesday.