Iranian Short Film Association Calls on Government to Ease Censorship
By Azadeh Karimi
The Iranian Short Film Association (ISFA), a nonprofit non-governmental organization operating under the auspices of the Iranian House of Cinema, released a statement recently calling on the Ministry of Culture and Islamic...
Iran Judiciary Lifts Ban on Honor Killing Movie ‘Parental House’
By Azadeh Karimi
On November 13, the Tehran prosecutor’s office lifted a ban on “The Parental House,” a 2012 feature-length drama written, directed and produced by the veteran Iranian filmmaker Kiyanoush Ayyari, according to Mohammad Mehdi...
Porn Documentary “XSunami” Screened in Iranian Holy City of Mashhad
By Azadeh Karimi
Some 300 people attended the invitation-only premiere of a feature-length documentary film titled “XSunami” ("Memoirs of a Porn Star") at the Hoveyze Multiplex Cinema in the holy city of Mashhad, capital of...
Israeli TV Thriller ‘Tehran’ Angers Iranian Newspaper
By Azadeh Karimi
The Tehran-based hardline Kayhan newspaper has attacked an Israeli television spy thriller tilted “Tehran,” describing it as an “anti-Iranian production.”
“Israel continues to make anti-Iranian movies and TV series,” Kayhan said in an...
Most Iranians Have Never Been to the Movies, Culture Minister Says
There are no movie theaters in nearly 1,000 cities in Iran, the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) has reported, citing Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Abbas Salehi.
“According to a recent study, nearly 88...
Meet the Iranian Protégé of Broadway Supremo Cameron Mackintosh
By Fred Parvaneh
For the past two decades, Iranian-born Shidan Majidi has been running the New York office of Sir Cameron Mackintosh -- the star producer of "Cats," "Les Miserables," and other hit Broadway musicals.
Born...
‘Beyond Shahs of Sunset’: Interview with Founder and Cardiologist Afshine Emrani
By Fred Parvaneh
Dr. Afshine Emrani is a prominent cardiologist and internist who serves the residents of the greater Los Angeles area. Separately from his medical practice, Dr. Emrani is a prolific blogger known for...
Cannes Festival Presents Movie by British-Iranian Director Babak Anvari
The British-Iranian director Babak Anvari’s latest film, “Wounds,” has been selected by the Cannes Film Festival this year in its parallel Directors’ Fortnight section. No awards are given out in that section.
“Wounds,” which is...
Iranian-American Maral Milani Plays Aspiring Yemeni Scientist In Play
By Fred Parvaneh
After four weeks of sold-out performances at the Odyssey Theatre in Los Angeles, “Paradise” -- a play written by Laura Maria Censabella and co-produced by Oscar-winning actress Viola Davis -- recently ended...
Venice Festival May Screen Jafar Panahi’s Documentary on Iran Flood Victims
A documentary film by the award-winning Iranian director Jafar Panahi and the veteran actress Pouri Banayi on the plight of people in the southern flood-stricken provinces of Khuzestan and Lorestan could be screened at...
