A Monty Python Visits Persia!
Terry Jones one of the Members of the Famous Monty Python Band is also a History Enthusiast. In a Documentary for British TV called "The Barbarians", he introduces us to the Ancient Civilizations which fought the Roman Empire. -Darius KADIVAR - 2/7/10
Banned thought-provoking Iranian films come to Tehran's black market
Official restrictions on screening films have added a new category to Tehran's black market, once the exclusive domain of porno flicks, home video footage and bootleg copies of onscreen Iranian and foreign films. -MNA - 2/6/10
Aref Qazvini's memoirs on Constitutional Movement published
Personal memoirs of the Iranian national poet Aref Qazvini on the Constitutional Movement were recently published by Nashr-e Sokhan Publications.Abolqassem Aref Qazvini (1882- 1934) was an Iranian poet, lyricist, and musician. He was a revolutionary during the Iranian Constitutional Movement and composed many political and pro-revolutionary songs. - 2/6/10
Rumi Puppet Opera: Gharibpur dedicates performance to Shajarian
The Wednesday performance of the Rumi Puppet Opera Show was dedicated to the giant of traditional Iranian music Mohammadreza Shajarian. Composed by Behzad Abdi, music for the opera was recorded in the Ukraine. The puppet show troupe Aran performs it using more than 100 puppets. -MNA - 2/5/10
Banished from his homeland, the 'Iranian Bob Dylan' wants nothing more than to write and perform freely back home
When singer-songwriter Mohsen Namjoo takes the stage at Stanford University on Friday and Sunday, he will be doing what he was never able to do in his homeland of Iran: perform in public. -San Jose Mercury - 2/4/10
Iran's Secret Obsession: Getting Lost in Tehran
Back before protests erupted last June, if you were to see a crowd gathered on the street in Tehran, odds were they were buying up the latest U.S. hit movie or TV show from a black market vendor. Customers flip through piles of plastic sleeves, looking for an unseen classic or the latest that the Americans have to offer -TIME - 2/4/10
Renowned director presents her Prix Henri Langlois award to Mourning Mothers of Iran
Renowned Iranian director Rakhshan Bani-Etemad received the Prix Henri Langlois at the French festival for her collection of cinematic productions. "I dedicate this award to all the mourning mothers of my land", she said at picking up her award. - 2/3/10
IRAN: Tehran staging of 'Galileo' reflects a nation's struggle against 'ignorance,' 'ancientness'
Will the truth triumph over superstition and dogma? That was the question hovering in a Tehran theater Sunday afternoon as 14 men and women in black clothes circled around the astronomer Galileo Galilei in director Dariush Farhang's sometimes nightmarish, politically loaded rendition of the 1943 play "The Life of Galileo" by German playwright Bertolt Brecht. -LA Times - 2/1/10
Iran may need fatwa to lift ban on "Journey to Hidalou"
An official from the Iranian Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance has said that they may need a fatwa to lift the ban on the premiere of "Journey to Hidalou", a film which was at one time banned because of a sex scandal involving its actress. - 1/31/10
Actress Fatemeh Gudarzi denies being on Fajr jury
Iranian actress Fatemeh Gudarzi has repudiated signing any agreement for membership on the jury of the 28th Fajr International Film Festival despite the official announcement.Festival organizers have been troubled by refusals of Iranian cineastes to serve on the jury. - 1/29/10
Saturday Night Live Hires First Iranian-Born Cast Member
Saturday Night Live's first Iranian-born cast member Nasim Pedrad joined the popular late night comedy and variety show last September and has since impersonated celebrities and first ladies including Kathy Griffin, Kim Kardashian and Iran's first lady. -Grace Nasri, Iran Times - 1/28/10
Fajr Film Festival jJury Announced - Many Boycott the Event
A few weeks before the festival began, it was rumored that a number of Iranian cineastes planned to boycott it in protest of the Iranian government's actions toward the opposition. Even some Iranian filmmakers, whose films are participating in the festival, have snubbed the event over the past few days as they have refused to attend press conferences held after the screenings of their films. -MNA - 1/27/10
Global Music Double Fundraiser: PAF Board Member, Fabian Alsultany and Doctors Without Borders
Please join us for a party in support of the health, wellness and recovery of our good friend Fabian Alsultany (GlobeSonic Sound System, Persian Arts Festival Board Member & Inspirational Force). Proceeds from this event will directly raise funds in Fabian's name for "Doctors Without Borders" towards their relief efforts in Haiti. - 1/27/10
FILM: Kick in Iran
Beautiful women beating the hell out of each other is a pretty marketable hook, and when you add the political subtext of "Kick in Iran," what you have is a package. -Variety - 1/27/10
Farhang Foundation and LACMA Proudly Present Gusheh be Gusheh
Farhang Foundation, together with the Los Angeles County Museum of Art announced today the premiere of Gusheh bé Gusheh, taking place at LACMA's Leo S. Bing Theater on January 28, 2010 at 7 p.m.Gusheh bé Gusheh is a traditional Persian music concert collaboration, led by the renowned European-based Iranian musician and composer Khosrow Soltani whose compositions have rejuvenated traditional Persian music. - 1/26/10
World Premiere of MITHRA by Iranian composer Behzad Ranjbaran in Santa Rosa
Santa Rosa Symphony Music Director Bruno Ferrandis leads the orchestra in a world premiere by award-winning contemporary composer Behzad Ranjbaran on February 13-15 at the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts in Santa Rosa. - 1/26/10
Ballet Afsaneh to perform "Celebration of Planet Earth" in Mountain View, California
Saturday, February 27, 2010 - Ballet Afsaneh presents an unprecedented alliance of international artists promoting peace and environmental consciousness with breathtaking music and dance performances. - 1/25/10
A Starless Fajr Film Festival Kicks Off
The 28th Fajr International Film Festival kicked off at Tehran's Milad Tower Saturday evening in absentia of movies stars and prominent Iranian filmmakers. - 1/24/10
Iran's Fajr Film Festival hit by calls for boycott and rumors
The organizers of the 28th edition of the Fajr International Film Festival, Iran's most important film gala, are trying to liven up the event as it seems to have been overshadowed by the post-election unrest. Over the past few weeks, it was rumored that a number of Iranian cineastes plan to boycott the festival in protest at the Iranian government's actions toward the opposition. However, this has not been confirmed by anyone. -MNA - 1/22/10
UCLA Film & Television Archive: 20th Annual Celebration of Iranian Cinema
Iran's entry to the 2010 Academy Awards, About Elly, on Feb. 20; Actress Gohar Kheirandish in person on Feb. 7; A new feature from director Bahman Gohbadi on Feb. 6; Director Shalizeh Arefpour in person on Feb. 5 - 1/22/10
Maz Jobrani hits the big time
Comedian Maz Jobrani has a lot to be excited about. His first hour-long special, "Maz Jobrani: Brown & Friendly," debuted on Showtime on New Year's Eve; it's available on DVD on Jan. 26. He's starring in a sitcom pilot for ABC – and he's finally made the transition from 15-minute club sets to hour-plus headlining theater gigs. -OC Register - 1/22/10
Documentary on First Female Iranian Olympian to Premiere at Sundance
In 2007 the twenty-year-old Sara became the first female Iranian athlete to qualify for the Olympics. The young athlete and her strong-willed coach, Maryam Azarmehr, had left such a strong impression on Fatima that she abandoned her original plan of action – "why go with three different stories when you have one really interesting one?" – in favor of strictly documenting Sara's journey over a nine-month period -Arsalan Barmand, NIAC - 1/21/10
"Speaking of Hayedeh and a God Given Voice"
The documentary film, "Hayedeh, Legendary Persian Diva" ["Sokhan az Hayedeh"], was among the films screened in Sweden at the 9th International Exile Film Festival, in Oct. 2009. On 20th 2010, 20th anniversary of Hayedeh's death in exile, the film has been released on DVD by the Persian Dutch Network in Amsterdam. -Hooman Khalatbari - 1/19/10
Iran to take controversial symphony to Europe despite objections
The Tehran Symphony Orchestra (TSO) will perform the Peace and Friendship Symphony in five European countries despite objections by a number of prominent Iranian musicians. A number of Iranian musicians including Melal Orchestra conductor Peyman Soltani and TSO Council member Mostafa-Kamal Purtorab are opposed to the composition selected for the concerts. - 1/18/10
"Grand Inquisitor" Not Welcome In Iran
Iran has cancelled the performances of the British play "Grand Inquisitor" which was to be staged by veteran British stage director Peter Brook at the 28th Fajr International Theater Festival in Tehran. - 1/16/10
Kennedy Center: Masters of Persian Music
Sunday, February 28, 2010 - This edition of Masters of Persian Music features two of the most important figures in Persian classical music touring with the next generation of musical masters! Kayhan Kalhor on kamancheh and Hossein Alizadeh on tar are joined by remarkable young vocalist Hamid Reza Nourbakhsh. - 1/15/10
An Iranian-British Comedienne Follows Childhood Dream
An Iranian-British comedienne whose "Beginner's Guide to Acting English" was published in July says being a comedian was her "childhood dream." It wasn't happenstance that Shappi Khorsandi, who is in her mid thirties, became interested in comedy from a young age. -Grace Nasri, Iran Times - 1/12/10
Iran's Jafar Panahi invited to Berlinale
Previously, Panahi's passport was confiscated at Tehran's Imam Khomeini Airport on October 15 when he was departing for France. Panahi also missed joining the jury of the 11th Mumbai Film Festival (MFF) in October 2009. -MNA - 1/10/10
Iranian singer Nazeri detained overnight, released
Iranian classical singer Shahram Nazeri, dubbed "Iran's Pavarotti," was released Friday after being held overnight for questioning by authorities in Tehran. -AP - 1/9/10
Iran: War Erupts Over Peace Symphony
Top Iranian musicians are opposing Iran's plan for them to perform the Peace and Friendship Symphony in Europe in the near future. Tehran Symphony Orchestra (TSO) conductor Manuchehr Sahbaii said last week that the orchestra will perform the symphony in Europe from January 22 to February 4. However, no country was mentioned for the location of the concerts. - 1/8/10
Iranian Filmmakers Keep Focus on the Turmoil
Iran's government cannot silence the filmmakers. It keeps trying. Films are censored. Directors are prohibited to leave the country and prohibited to return home, forced to cancel projects and threatened with punishment if their films are too probing or too critical of life in the Islamic Republic.But the films keep coming, and so do the filmmakers. -New York Times - 1/4/10
Ketab: A Short Film by Ana Lily Amirpour Is Going to Tribeca
Ana Lily Amirpour is working on her next project: a short film called KETAB, about a lonely young guy in Tehran who goes to buy a book. On the surface, it appears to be a very basic story, but as it unfolds, a much more intricate world is revealed, one that touches on the current dichotomies faced by Tehrani youth and their fight for basic freedoms. - 12/29/09
Iran lifts travel restrictions on actress Motamed-Arya
Iran has removed travel restrictions on actress Fatemeh Motamed-Arya, Tehran Prosecutor General Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi said on Tuesday. However, restrictions still remain in place on filmmakers Jafar Panahi and Mojtaba Mirtahmasb, he added. "Reports we received about these persons convinced us to forbid them to travel abroad," he stated. - 12/22/09
Iran threatens unlicensed films' cast and crew with punitive action
The remark was made by Culture Ministry's Supervision and Evaluation Office (SEO) Director Alireza Sajjadpur after the film "The White Meadows" by Iranian director Mohammad Rasoulof won two accolades at the 6th International Film Festival on Wednesday. - 12/19/09
Images of Tehran Before the Turmoil
"Tehran Without Permission," a documentary shot furtively on a cellphone in Iran's capital in 2008, appears to offer outsiders glimpses of the private lives of Iranians, which are not consumed entirely by politics, as news coverage of the public demonstrations for and against the government there since June's disputed presidential election might led some to believe. -NY Times - 12/17/09
Pour Un Instant: LA LIBERTE!
Austrian-Iranian film director Arash T. Riahi signs an outspoken film on the plight of Iranian refugees fleeing their homeland for freedom --- Probably one of the advantages for Iranian Diaspora filmmakers today, is to work in their country of adoption. Be it in Europe or the United States, independent films benefit from a freedom of expression which at worst would be only challenged by financial limitations but never truly by any form of political or artistic censorship. -Darius KADIVAR - 12/16/09
Actress Hedyeh Tehrani Holds Photo Exhibition
Cineastes, artists and fans flocked to the opening ceremony of the photo exhibition by superstar Hedyeh Tehrani here on Wednesday at the Iranian Artists Forum (IAF). Abbas Kiarostami, Tahmineh Milani, Marzieh Borumand, Seifollah Samadian, Habib Rezaii and Amir-Hossein Seddiq were seen among the visitors who came to see the first exhibit of the actress. - 12/11/09
Iran's Renowned Santur Virtuoso Faramarz Payvar Dies at 77
Renowned Iranian musician and santur virtuoso Master Faramarz Payvar died on Wednesday. He was 77. Payvar had a stroke eleven years ago and was not able to continue his career afterwards. - 12/9/09
National Board of Review Names Iran's Song of Sparrows Among Top Five Foreign Films
The US National Board of Review of Motion Pictures (NBR) has listed Iran's Oscar-nominated Song of Sparrows among its best foreign language film. Majid Majidi's feature-length production, which represented Iran at the 81st Academy Awards, was selected along with The Maid, Revanche, Three Monkeys and The White Ribbon. - 12/5/09
Shohreh Aghdashloo and Houshang Touzie to perform "An Iranian in Heaven"
In 2009, Iranian American actress Shohreh Aghdashloo won the Emmy for best supporting actress in a miniseries or movie for her role as the wife of Saddam Hussein in House of Saddam. The actress, was also nominated for an Oscar for the 2003 feature film House of Sand and Fog. - 12/3/09
Rumi in Performance by Shahram Shiva in New York
Shahram Shiva is a performance poet, award-winning translator and scholar of Rumi and author of several books. He is known for his rich and entrancing concerts of Rumi, the 13th Century Persian mystic poet. - 12/2/09
Parvin Etesami Film Festival Lauds Bahram Beizaii's "Bashu"
Bahram Beizaii's "Bashu, the Little Stranger" was announced as the best film at the International Parvin Etesami Film Festival. The festival, named in memory of the Iranian female poet Parvin Etesami, was held at the Mellat Cinematic Complex and Iranian Artists Forum from November 22 to 27. - 11/29/09
Persian iPhone applications
Persian language is now supported on the latest iPhone Operating System hence there are a growing number of Persian applications on iTune store (about 70 apps so far). Here is a quick look at three applications targeting Iranian communities. - 11/28/09
Iranian Film Takes Best Short Film Award at German Festival
Mehdi's Baqeri's short film "Father Gave Water" was awarded at the Up-and-Coming International Film Festival Hannover that was held from November 19 to 22. - 11/26/09
American Comedy Show Finds Lots of Laughs in Iran
According to a recent poll by Time Magazine - most Americans watch "funny" news versus "real" news because they find it to be more honest and revealing. The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, a satirical news program, broadcasts on the Comedy Central network in the United States. Two weeks before the Iranian elections in June, The Daily Show sent a reporter and producer to Iran to get the funny truth about the country. - 11/25/09
Farhang Foundation SHORT FILM FESTIVAL 2010: Iranian Heritage Music Video
Farhang Foundation and SoCiArts are proud to announce the second annual Farhang Foundation Short Film Festival. This year, filmmakers from all walks of life, Iranian and non-Iranian, are invited to create a music video (less than 9 minutes) of any genre or style, visualizing an aspect of Iranian arts, history, culture, crafts, geography, cuisine or lifestyle. - 11/23/09
Saffron Musical Group Formed
World renowned sitarist and Grammy award nominee Shujaat Husain Khan together with Tim Ries, Katayoun Goudarzi, Kevin Hays and Satoshi Takeishi is pleased to announce the formation of his latest musical group, Saffron. - 11/22/09
Tehran to host mime festival in winter
Tehran's Eshraq Cultural Center will host the first edition of a mime festival from February 6 to 9. The festival was planned to be held in summer 2009 but was postponed due to financial problems, the festival's organizer Bahram Reihani told ISNA. - 11/21/09
Iran and the Oscars!!
Following a short news article I read about the Academy of Motion Pictures visit to Iran, I decided to learn more about this important trip. My sense of curiosity was so heightened that I searched high and low for more information. To my surprise there were not too many news articles about what seemed to be an important mission in Iran. I immediately put my forces together and contacted The Academy who then invited me and the crew to the headquarters' office in Beverly Hills. -Parisa DeFaie - 11/19/09
Shajarian has not been arrested or subpoenaed: Attorney
On Monday, certain Persian news websites published an interview VOA Persian conducted with attorney Mohammad-Hossein Aghasi, in which he announced that the leading Iranian vocalist had been summoned to a building on Jordan Street in Tehran upon his arrival at Tehran's Imam Khomeini Airport after his recent European concert tour in September. - 11/19/09
|
