Thursday, May 7, 2026

Rave Parties in the Iranian Desert Are Subject of New Documentary

By Julie Ershadi
In the Iranian poetic tradition, the desert is the symbol of a soul-searching spiritual journey, or a refuge from the eyes of the world. In Raving Iran, filmmaker Susanne Regina Meures’ 2016 documentary, the desert is the hiding place for a pair of modern revelers keen to express themselves away from the government’s reach.

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...

Actress Zar Amir Ebrahimi Channelled Own Experience of Iran in Thriller ‘Holy Spider’

By Marie-Louise Gumuchian LONDON, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Iranian actress Zar Amir Ebrahimi, who fled her home country in 2008 in fear after a private video was leaked, says she channelled her own experience in the thriller...

Another Oscar for Iran and Asghar Farhadi, the Director who Refused to Attend this...

Though he boycotted Hollywood's annual Awards Ceremony, Tehran-based film director Asghar Farhadi has repeated history, clinching a second Best Foreign Language Film Oscar for "The Salesman" five years after he became the first Iranian...
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Banned Iranian Director Ali Ahmadzadeh Wins Top Award At Locarno Film Festival

By Ahmad Rafat Ali Ahmadzadeh — an Iranian filmmaker who was banned earlier this year from leaving his country — has won the top award at the Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland for his movie...

Halloween with a Persian Twist

By Fred Parvaneh Halloween is a quintessentially American celebration – yet one that countless Iranians around the globe happily partake in. Halloween relives the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in), which originated in Ireland, the...

Two Iranian Directors Win Prizes at Karlovy Vary Festival in Czech Republic 

By Ahmad Rafat Two Iranian directors have won prizes at the prestigious Karlovy Vary International Film Festival held in the Czech Republic. The Best Director award was given to the movie "Fremont,”  directed by Babak Jalali....

Antonio Banderas Co-Stars With Golshifteh Farahani, Discovers Prehistoric Site

By Ahmad Rafat Cinemas all over Spain this year have been showing a new movie called Altamira, with Antonio Banderas in the title role. Mr. Banderas, one of the best-known faces in world cinema, plays Marcelino Sanz...

Film Director Lambastes Journalist Over Opposition To Hijab

Marzieh Boroumand, a veteran Iranian film and television director who has come out against the compulsory hijab, has also criticized those who incite civil unrest, particularly from outside the country. A recent message on her...

Iranians Win Awards at Venice Film Festival; Keep Silent on Afkari Execution

By Ahmad Rafat Iranian films were among the winners of the 77th International Venice Film Festival, which ran from 2 to Sept. 12 -- and was the first international film festival to be held with...