Iran’s We Defeat Coronavirus Intl. Cartoon Contest announces finalists 

TEHRAN – The organizers of Iran’s We Defeat Coronavirus International Cartoon Contest has released the list of the 47 finalists, 15 of whom are Iranians.

By Maniejh Rezapoor

Nine Iranian movies to compete in Zlin Film Festival

TEHRAN – A lineup of nine Iranian movies will be competing in the 60th Zlin Film Festival running in the Czech city from September 4 to 14.

By Seyyed Mostafa Mousavi Sabet 

Coronavirus domino effect: Resistance filmfest to go online

TEHRAN – Coronavirus exerted its domino effect on the Resistance International Film Festival as the organizers announced on Sunday that the 16th edition of the event will go online due to a spike in the virus cases in the country.

Tehran center spotlights old tazieh scripts to save from oblivion

TEHRAN – The director of the Kahrobaye Tazieh Center has said that the center has put its spotlight on numerous vintage tazieh scripts to save the masterpieces that are gradually passing into oblivion.

Coronavirus moves Cinema Vérité festival online

TEHRAN – The 14th edition of the Cinema Vérité, Iran’s major international festival for documentary films, will be organized entirely online during December due to a spike in coronavirus cases in the country over the past month.

Leader praises Afshin Ala poem denouncing Israel, UAE deal

TEHRAN – The Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, praised Iranian poet Afshin Ala for poetry that criticizes the United Arab Emirates’ deal to forge ties with Israel.

Artist to bring Ashura tragedy to life in teahouse painting

TEHRAN – Artist Mohammadreza Mohammad-Hossein plans to recreate the tragedy of Ashura in a huge teahouse painting.

Filmmaker Majid Majidi presides over festival of shorts on family rituals for Muharram     

TEHRAN – World-renowned Iranian filmmaker Majid Majidi has been selected as president of a festival, which will put its spotlight on short films covering rituals Iranian families will practice in their homes to commemorate the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein (AS) this year.  

By Manijeh Rezapoor

Online tazieh performance safe solution for pandemic: performer Ala’eddin Qasemi 

TEHRAN – Ala’eddin Qasemi, a major performer and director of tazieh plays, has said that online performance is a safe and ultimate solution as tazieh performances from across the country are being prepared to go on stage during the lunar months of Muharram and Safar amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Japanese environmental drawing contest honors paintings by Iranian children 

TEHRAN – Paintings by Iranian children Melika Amjadian and Nasim Zamani have been honored in the international section of the 20th JQA International Environmental Children’s Drawing Contest in Japan.

Book of Shahnameh stories illustrated by Morteza Momayyez published

TEHRAN – A book containing a selection of stories taken from Ferdowsi’s epic masterpiece Shahnameh, and bearing illustrations by Morteza Momayyez, has been published by Yasavoli Publications in Tehran.

Tazieh performances to go on stage at Rudaki Open-Air Theater 

TEHRAN – The Rudaki Open-Air Theater will be hosting tazieh performances during the first ten nights of the lunar month of Muharram amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Tehran cultural, religious centers to host tazieh performances 

TEHRAN – The director of the Khatam Cultural Center has announced that several cultural and religious centers across Tehran will be hosting tazieh performances for ten nights during Muharram.

Lebanese publisher buys rights to Iranian POW Mehdi Tahanian’s memoir 

TEHRAN – Dar al-Hadarah, a Beirut-based publishing house, has recently purchased rights to the memoir of Iranian prisoner of war Mehdi Tahanian.

By Seyyed Mostafa Mousavi Sabet

Farshchian’s “Evening of Ashura” perfect expression of grief  

TEHRAN – Master miniaturist Mahmud Farshchian created “The Evening of Ashura” both to depict one of the greatest tragedies for Muslims and to represent the power of art in expressing major events of history.

Cinema Vérité to pay tribute to Khosro Sinai

TEHRAN – The Documentary and Experimental Film Center (DEFC) plans to pay tribute to the celebrated filmmaker Khosro Sinai, a COVID-19 victim, during the 14th edition of the Cinema Vérité, Iran’s major international festival for documentary films.

Art Bureau records 10 tazieh performances for IRIB broadcast during Muharram

TEHRAN – Tehran’s Art Bureau has recorded ten tazieh performances to be broadcast from the TV channels of Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting during the first days of the lunar month of Muharram, which is observed every year with rituals for the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein (AS) and his companions.

By Seyyed Mostafa Mousavi Sabet

“Qeisar” star Bahman Mofid passes on at 78

TEHRAN – Bahman Mofid, a star of director Masud Kimiai’s cult film “Qeisar”, died of lung cancer at his home in Tehran on Sunday. He was 78. 

Qorban Mohammadpur to make sequel to “Salam Mumbai”

TEHRAN – Iranian director Qorban Mohammadpur plans to make a sequel to his 2015 love story “Salam Mumbai”.

Vocalist Salar Aqili sings “Sun of the Orient” in memory of health workers died of COVID-19

TEHRAN – Vocalist Salar Aqili has paid tribute to the health workers who died of COVID-19 by a single named “The Sun of the Orient”. 

Writer Javad Mojabi says new novel recounts most awful human relations of modern world 

TEHRAN – Iranian writer and critic Javad Mojabi has said that in his latest novel “Nowhere States” he has turned his spotlight on the most awful human relations in the contemporary world.

IRIB prepares new religious TV series for Muharram, Safar 

TEHRAN – Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) has prepared three new religious TV series to entertain people during the lunar months of Muharram and Safar, which are observed every year with rituals for the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein (AS) and his companions.

Audiobook classics of Persian literature released for Azerbaijani listeners   

TEHRAN – Audio versions of Yusof and Zolaykha and Leyli and Majnun, two love stories from the classic Persian literature, have been released for Azerbaijani listeners.

Iranian composer Loris Tjeknavorian wins Books for Peace Awards 2020

TEHRAN - The 82-year-old Iranian composer Loris Tjeknavorian has been selected as the winner of the Books for Peace Awards 2020.

Anthology of short stories by Iranian writers published in Iraq 

TEHRAN – An anthology of short stories from 14 contemporary Iranian writers has been published in Arabic in a book by the Shahriar Publishing House in Iraq.

Film Museum of Iran photo exhibit celebrates Ali Hatami’s birthday 

TEHRAN – An online exhibition launched by the Film Museum of Iran on Thursday is celebrating the 76th birthday of filmmaker Ali Hatami by showcasing a collection of his rarely-seen photos and pictures of his documents and memorabilia. 

Mohammad Mirkiani’s book of ancient Persian stories published in Turkish  

TEHRAN – Iranian writer Mohammad Mirkiani’s book “Our Story Becomes a Fairy Tale”, which contains a large collection of ancient stories of Persian sayings has been published in Turkish in Istanbul.

Iranian photographers win awards at New York contest

TEHRAN – Several Iranian photographers have won awards at the International Photography Contest New York – Manhattan.

Sculptor Parviz Tanavoli’s new book reveals his craze for collecting uncommon objects   

TEHRAN – Sculptor Parviz Tanavoli, also known as an eminent Persian art scholar, tells about his passion for collecting strange and rare objects in his new book titled “Mania for Collecting”.

By Manijeh Rezapoor

Designs from Iranian architects competing for Dezeen Awards 2020

TEHRAN – Three projects by Iranian architects have been selected by the Dezeen Awards 2020 as the world’s most popular and influential architecture and design competition has announced its longlist.