The Shah’s Dying Days: Interview with Filmmaker Bobak Kalhor
By Fred Parvaneh
"A Dying King” is a documentary by first-time filmmaker Bobak Kalhor that examines the untold medical story of the late Shah of Iran and the truth behind his death in July 1980.
The...
Venice Film Festival Hosts Filmmakers Shirin Neshat, Khatami
Four Iranian directors are presenting their movies at this year's Venice Film Festival (which ends Sept. 9), all of them outside of the official competition. They include Shirin Neshat, who won the festival's Silver...
Iranian Gangster Movie Starring Parviz Sayyad Gets L.A. Premiere
By Fred Parvaneh
An Iranian gangster movie co-starring the veteran Iranian actor Parviz Sayyad had its red-carpet L.A. premiere earlier this month, with Sayyad and other cast and crew members attending.
Written and directed by Daniel...
Shah’s Dentist Turns Car Manufacturer in Movie ‘Price for Freedom’
By Fred Parvaneh
The movie "Price for Freedom" – based on a true story published by the Iranian-born dentist Dr. Marc Benhuri – had its Los Angeles premiere at the Laemmle Music Hall on June...
Hollywood Filmmaker Ana Lily Amirpour Discusses Her New Movie, Iranian Roots
By Laura van Straaten
Hours before opening weekend for her much-anticipated movie “The Bad Batch,” the
Iranian-American screenwriter and director Ana Lily Amirpour sat down for an interview with Kayhan Life to discuss her quick rise...
Iranian-Australian Actor Mojean Aria Wins Heath Ledger Award
By Fred Parvaneh
In early June, the young Iranian-Australian actor Mojean (pronounced Moe-zhan) Aria was announced as the recipient of the 2017 "Heath Ledger Scholarship".
The prestigious award, created by the non-profit organization Australians in Film,...
Iranian-Born Actor Arsi Nami Stars in Award-Winning Short Film
By Julie Ershadi
Abbas Kiarostami isn’t the only Iranian who received praise in Cannes this year. Arsalan (Arsi) Nami, an Iranian-born artist, music therapist, and actor, is the star of "Love is Blind," a short...
Cannes Film Festival Remembers Kiarostami, Screens His Last Movie
Abbas Kiarostami, the celebrated Iranian filmmaker who passed away in July 2016, was a Cannes Film Festival regular. Not only did he win the Palme d'Or in 1997 for "The Taste of Cherry," but...
Defying political pressure, Iranian director keeps camera running
CANNES, France (Reuters) – When Iranian authorities sentenced Mohammad Rasoulof to jail, they may have hoped the filmmaker would stop work or at least tone down his movies that lay bare legal and political injustices...
Afghan Rockers Meet Metallica In Award-Winning Iranian Movie
By Fred Parvaneh
"Radio Dreams," the award-winning film by Babak Jalali, had its LA premiere on May 7. Produced by Marjaneh Moghimi, the movie is centered around a quest by Kabul Dreams – Afghanistan's first...
