Iran Cinema Celebration announces nominees

TEHRAN – Actor Ali Nasirian, the president of the 20th edition of Iran Cinema Celebration has announced the nominees of this year’s edition.

“Lost Strait” gala premiere canceled over unfavorable economic condition

TEHRAN – The producers of “The Lost Strait” canceled the gala premiere of the acclaimed war drama on Saturday due to the current unfavorable economic conditions facing the Iranian people, a public relations team announced on Saturday.

Iranologist Jahangir Dorri dies at 87 

TEHRAN – The Moscow-based expert on Iranian studies, Jahangir Dorri, died of natural causes at 87 last Wednesday, the Persian media announced on Saturday.

Niavaran complex to host Constitutional Revolution exhibit 

TEHRAN – An exhibition of documents and photos of the Constitutional Revolution will open today at Tehran’s Niavaran Cultural Historical Complex.

Children’s festival to host 2nd Youth Film Making Olympiad of Iran

TEHRAN – The second edition of the Youth Film Making Olympiad of Iran is scheduled to be organized during the 31st International Film Festival for Children and Youth in Isfahan, which will be running from August 30 to September 5.

Iran’s “Limit” wins awards at New York festival 

TEHRAN – Iranian director Javad Darai’s acclaimed short film “Limit” won two awards at the Peekskill Film Festival, which took place in New York from July 26 to 29.

Culture and Art Orchestra performs with conductor Farhad Fakhreddini 

TEHRAN – The Culture and Art Orchestra had the honor of performing on Thursday with 80-year-old maestro Farhad Fakhreddini, the founder and the former conductor of the National Orchestra.

Tokyo to host Iranian film festival

TEHRAN – The Japanese capital of Tokyo will playing host to a festival of Iranian films from August 7 to 9.

Maestro Vartan Sahakian honored in Tehran

TEHRAN – Musicians and friends gathered at Tehran’s Vahdat Hall on Tuesday to attend a ceremony held to honor Iranian maestro Vartan Sahakian for his lifetime achievements in music.

Movies from Iran line up for Melbourne festival

TEHRAN – Movies by five Iranian filmmakers will be screened in the various sections of the Melbourne International Film Festival.

Culture Ministry gives green light to Shajarian’s free outdoor concerts 

TEHRAN – The Music Office of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance gave its formal approval on Tuesday to vocalist Homayun Shajarian’s plan to perform free concerts on the streets.

By Manijeh Rezapoor

37th Fajr Intl. Theater Festival to review top plays of the year 

TEHRAN – The director the Fajr International Theater Festival, Nader Borhani Marand, has said that all the popular Iranian plays of the past year will be reviewed at the 37th edition of the event that will take place in Tehran during February 2019.

Farabi rejects request for right to select Iran’s Oscar submission

TEHRAN – The Farabi Cinema Foundation has denied a request from the Union of Iranian Directors, a division of the Iranian House of Cinema, for entrusting the selection of Iran’s Oscar submission to the house.

Shajarian offers gratis gigs to boost Iranians’ spirits

TEHRAN – Vocalist Homayun Shajarian said on Monday that he is eager to perform free concerts on the streets to boost the spirits of Iranians during the current adverse economic conditions confronting the country if the cultural authorities would grant the necessary permission.

Iran, Algeria to co-produce film on Algiers’ last Ottoman ruler 

TEHRAN – Iran and Algeria plan to co-produce a movie on Ahmed Bey (c. 1784-1850), the last Ottoman ruler of Algiers.

“Daughter” director Reza Mirkarimi to make “Qasre Shirin” 

TEHRAN – Reza Mirkarimi, the director of acclaimed movies such as “The Daughter”, “A Cube of Sugar” and “So Close, So Far”, plans to shoot his new film “Qasre Shirin” during this autumn.

Persian translation of book on peacemaking by Ayatollah Khamenei to be republished soon

TEHRAN – The Islamic Revolution Publications plans to republish the Persian translation of “Sulh al-Hasan” (“The Peace Treaty of Imam Hassan”) by Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei in the near future.

“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” comes true at Gdansk Shakespeare Festival 

TEHRAN – An Iranian troupe directed by Mostafa Kushki performed “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” at the 22nd Gdansk Shakespeare Festival in Poland on Sunday.

Azerbaijani musician Shahriyar Imanov to perform with Iranian ensemble at Tehran concert 

TEHRAN – Azerbaijani tar player Shahriyar Imanov will join with an Iranian ensemble in Tehran on August 8 to perform a concert at Vahdat Hall.

Copies of Quran fetch about $1.6 million at Iran’s National Auction

TEHRAN – A huge copy and a tiny copy of the Holy Quran from a single collection were sold for 70 billion rials (about $1.6 million) during the second night of the fourth edition of Iran’s National Auction on Friday.

Iranian photographers win gold medals at Danube Digital Circuit

TEHRAN – Three Iranian photographers have been honored with gold medals in various categories at the 2nd Danube Digital Circuit in Belarus.

Iran’s Cultural Days open in Manila 

TEHRAN – Iran’s Cultural Days, a program offering a variety of art and cultural programs, opened in different locations across the Filipino capital of Manila on Wednesday.

Forecast falls short at Iran’s National Auction, 30 artworks fail to find buyers

TEHRAN – The fourth edition of Iran’s National Auction, which is dedicated to classical Iranian artworks, fetched 17.11 billion rials (over $400,000 based on the dollar’s official market exchange rate i.e. 42,000 rials for $1), 340 million rials less than what was estimated one day before the first day of the sale on Thursday.

Fatemeh Motamed-Arya on panel of Venice film festival

TEHRAN – Iranian actress Fatemeh Motamed-Arya has been selected for a jury of the 75th Venice International Film Festival running from August 29 to September 8, the organizers have announced.

Toronto festival to screen Farhadi’s “Everybody Knows” 

TEHRAN – Asghar Farhadi’s latest movie “Everybody Knows” is among the notable films selected to go on screen at the 43rd Toronto International Film Festival running from September 6 to 16, the organizers have announced.

Iranian House of Cinema seeking right to select Iran’s Oscar submission 

TEHRAN – The Union of Iranian Directors, which is a division of the Iranian House of Cinema, has asked the Farabi Cinema Foundation to entrust selecting Iran’s Oscar submission to the house that is also known as the Iranian Alliance of Motion Pictures Guilds.

Concept designs from Iran shortlisted for Architizer A+Awards

TEHRAN – Two concept designs from Iranian companies are among the finalists at the 6th Annual Architizer A+Awards in New York.

Rhode Island festival to screen films from Iran 

TEHRAN – Several films from Iran will be screened at the Rhode Island International Film Festival (RIIFF) running in the American state from August 7 to 12.

“Majan” named best at Zanzibar film festival

TEHRAN -- “Majan” by Iranian director Rahman Seifi-Azad won the award for best film from DHOW countries at the Zanzibar International Film Festival in Tanzania, the organizers announced last week. 

Tehran art galleries offered installment plan to lessen loss of earnings in recession 

TEHRAN – A gallery owner in Tehran said on Tuesday that her colleague had received a proposal to sell artworks on an installment plan in order to cope with the loss of earnings during the current economic recession in the country.