Iranian photographer Babak Mehrafshar wins Gold Medal at Turkish contest

TEHRAN – Iranian photographer Babak Mehrafshar has won the FIAP Gold Medal at the Skylife International Photography Contest in Turkey.

“Gold Runner”, “Truck” shine at Duhok film festival

TEHRAN – Iranian director Turaj Aslani’s drama “Gold Runner” and his fellow filmmaker Kambuzia Partovi’s movie “Truck” won awards at the 7th edition of the Duhok International Film Festival in Iraq, the organizers announced on Monday.

Film scores by Alfred Newman up for discussion at Tehran center 

TEHRAN – Tehran’s Niavaran Cultural Center will be hosting a session on Thursday to review film scores by prominent American composer Alfred Newman (1900–1970).

Montreal cinematheque to screen Iranian shorts

TEHRAN – The Cinematheque Quebecoise in Montreal, Canada plans to review 13 Iranian short films during a program, which will be held from September 23 to 26. 

Tehran short film festival unveils intl. lineup

TEHRAN – A lineup of 50 movies from 25 countries will go on screen in various sections of the international competition of the 36th Tehran International Short Film Festival (TISFF), the organizers announced on Sunday. 

Iran, Turkey to produce movie on Rumi, Shams 

TEHRAN – Iran and Turkey will collaborate on a joint film project, which will focus on the lives of the Persian poet and mystic Molana Jalal ad-Din Rumi and Shams-i Tabrizi, the wandering sage who later became the mentor of Rumi in the 13th century CE.

By Seyyed Mostafa Mousavi Sabet

Controversial movie “Hussein, Who Said No” illegally uploaded on YouTube, Facebook, EarthLink

TEHRAN – The Arabic version of “Hussein, Who Said No”, Iranian director Ahmadreza Darvish’s controversial movie about the uprising of Imam Hussein (AS) against the Umayyad dynasty in 680 CE, has illegally been uploaded on YouTube, Facebook and EarthLink. 

Books from Iran nominated for IBBY Honor List

TEHRAN – Three Iranian books have been nominated in three sections of the Honor List of the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY), the Children’s Book Council of Iran announced on Saturday. 

Composer Kayhan Kalhor to collaborate in Dormishian’s new film “We Are Forced”

TEHRAN – Composer and kamancheh virtuoso Kayhan Kalhor will be collaborating with filmmaker Reza Dormishian by composing music for his new movie “We Are Forced”.

Nine foreign movies to screen at Iran’s Farda festival 

TEHRAN – The 5th Farda Technology and Industry Film and Photography Festival will review a lineup of nine films from overseas filmmakers.

“Driving Lessons” crowned best short at London film festival

TEHRAN – Iranian director Marzieh Riahi’s movie “Driving Lessons” has won the award for best short drama at the 13th edition of the I Will Tell International Film Festival in London, the organizers have announced.

By Manijeh Rezapoor 

‘Tazieh can embellish capital all throughout the year’ 

TEHRAN – After the advent of Islam in Iran and the consolidation by the Safavid dynasty (1502-1736) of Shia Islam as the state religion of Iran, the Shia have always tried to keep the tragedy of Ashura alive. 

By Seyyed Mostafa Mousavi Sabet

Attention ALMA jury! Please recognize “You’re No Stranger Here”

In early September, Iranian children’s book writer Hushang Moradi Kermani was selected by Iran’s Institute for Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults (IIDCYA) to represent the country at the 2020 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (ALMA), the World’s largest children’s literature honor. 

China’s Writers Publishing House buys rights to Persian novels “Hasti”, “Call Me Ziba”

TEHRAN – China’s Writers Publishing House has acquired the copyrights to two young adult novels “Hasti” and “Call Me Ziba” by Iranian writer Farhad Hassanzadeh.

Ida Panahandeh on jury of Duhok Intl. Film Festival

TEHRAN – Ida Panahandeh, the Iranian director of acclaimed movies “Nahid” and “Israfil”, has been selected as a member of the jury at the 7th Duhok International Film Festival in Iraq, the organizers have announced.

“Eleventh Golestan” writer Behnaz Zarrabizadeh wins Eurasian Literature Award

TEHRAN – Iranian writer Behnaz Zarrabizadeh has received the Eurasian Literature Award for her book, “The Eleventh Golestan”, which contains memories of Commander Ali Chitsazian’s wife, Zahra Panahirava.

Iran Cultural Fairs Institute, Publishers Association of Russia ink MOU 

TEHRAN – A memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed between the Iran Cultural Fairs Institute (ICFI) and the Publishers Association of Russia to enhance bilateral cooperation.

Movies from Iran line up for Busan festival

TEHRAN – Ten Iranian movies will go on screen in various sections of the 24th Busan International Film Festival in South Korea as the organizers announced the official lineup on Thursday.

Rare tazieh scripts on display at Iranian Artists Forum

TEHRAN – Copies of a collection of rare handwritten scripts of tazieh performances is currently on view in an exhibition at the Iranian Artists Forum (IAF).  

“Call Me Ziba” published in Armenian 

TEHRAN – Children’s book writer Farhad Hassanzadeh’s novel “Call Me Ziba” has recently been published in Armenian.

Moradi Kermani, IIDCYA bookmobiles join Iran’s nominees for ALMA 2020

TEHRAN – Iran’s Institute for Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults (IIDCYA) nominated renowned Iranian children’s book writer Hushang Moradi Kermani and its bookmobiles for the 2020 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (ALMA) on Wednesday.

By Samaneh Aboutalebi

Italian saxophonist Francesco Cafiso eager to share his love of jazz with Iranian audience

TEHRAN – Prominent Italian jazz saxophonist Francesco Cafiso has said that he is eager to share his love of jazz with Iranian enthusiasts.

Authors Simin Daneshvar, Herta Muller to link up in “Language of Sleep”

TEHRAN – Iranian director Sama Musavi plans to stage “In Language of Sleep”, a biography play on Iranian author Simin Daneshvar and German-Romanian novelist Herta Muller, at Tehran Independent Theater in late September. 

Restored versions of “Fateful Day”, “Flying in the Night” hit screens

TEHRAN – The restored versions of “Flying in the Night” by Rasul Mollaqolipur and “The Fateful Day” by Shahram Asadi have been screened in Tehran, Mashhad and Shiraz, the Farabi Cinema Foundation has announced.

Iran’s Khosh Honar ensemble wins gold medal at Bulgaria World Folk 2019

TEHRAN – The Iranian ensemble Khosh Honar led by musician Aidin Bayat has won the gold medal at the 9th edition of the World Championship of Folklore – World Folk 2019 held in the Bulgarian town of Nessebar. 

IIDCYA museum launches escape room area “Pars Heritage” 

TEHRAN – The Institute for Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults (IIDCYA) opened an escape room area named “Pars Heritage” at the IIDCYA History Museum on Monday.

Exhibition of posters on Ashura opens in Art Bureau 

TEHRAN – The Art Bureau in Tehran is playing host to an exhibition of posters on Ashura.

Bangladeshi troupe performs play on Sadi in Dhaka

TEHRAN – The Bangladeshi theater troupe Chandrakala has performed its new production “Sheikh Sadi”, a play about the life story of Persian poet Sheikh Muslih od-Din Sadi Shirazi, at the National Theatre Hall of the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in Dhaka.

Iran selects nominees for Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award

TEHRAN – Iran has announced its nominees for the 2020 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, a prestigious Swedish honor to promote children’s and youths’ literature in the world.

Director Rasul Sadr-Ameli on Singapore film festival jury

TEHRAN – Rasul Sadr-Ameli, the Iranian director of acclaimed movies “The Girl in Sneakers” and “I’m Taraneh, 15”, is a member of the jury of the Singapore South Asian International Film Festival, which opened on Friday.