Iranian Stage Directors Face Difficulty Adapting Persian Works, Playwright Says
By Azadeh Karimi
There are fewer restrictions on Iranian authors living in the Islamic Republic to write about other countries than their own, Hamidreza Naeimi, playwright, and theatre director has said.
“The only thing that can...
Iran’s Ministry of Culture Stops Release of Album Containing Rumi Poem
By Azadeh Karimi
The poetry committee of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance’s Office for Music has refused to issue a permit to Iranian singer-songwriter Mohsen Chavoshi for the release of his latest album...
Oscars Selection Process Criticized by Iran’s Filmmakers
By Azadeh Karimi
The Farabi Cinema Foundation (FCF), which promotes the Islamic Republic’s film industry abroad, has selected “Finding Farideh,” a feature-length documentary, as a contender in the Best Foreign Language Film category for the...
Iran Has Banned 52 Women Musicians from Performing Since January
The Iranian authorities have banned the cellist Elmira Nematzadeh and the daf player Negar Ezazi, two female members of the music band Hamnavazan Hesar, from accompanying the tar virtuoso, songwriter and singer Ali Ghamsari...
Iranian Singer Alireza Ghorbani’s Concert Is Canceled for Security Reasons
The Iranian authorities have canceled a Tehran concert by the singer-songwriter Alireza Ghorbani earlier this month because of security concerns related to an unscheduled visit by Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi.
In a message posted...
Iranian Actor Mohsen Afshani Arrested for Posting Provocative Video on Social Media
Police have arrested the Iranian actor and TV presenter Mohsen Afshani after he posted a video clip on his Instagram page that showed him waving a handgun and a knife while driving around in...
Sad Pop Songs Harm Iranian Youth’s Mental Health, Sociologist Says
Contemporary Iranian pop music could cause severe depression in young people, the Iranian Labor News agency (ILNA) has reported, citing Dr. Amir Mahmoud Harirchi, an associate professor at the Tehran University of Social Welfare...
Qazvin University Bars Women Musicians from Performing at Charity Event
May 23, 2019 - The president of Qazvin’s Islamic Azad University Morteza Mousakhani barred female members of the “Pathetique” string orchestra from appearing on stage during a scheduled charity concert on May 21, Iranian...
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...
