Art news in brief

December 9, 2014, 12:52 pm

≫ Next: Islamic Conference of Information Ministers achieves positive results: Iranian official

≪ Previous: Iranian university to host Intl. Conference on Quran Translation

$

0

0

“Fish and I” grabs award at American festival

TEHRAN – Iranian film “The Fish and I” by Babak Habibifar won the audience award of the 8th Short Short Story Film Festival in Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.

 

The movie, telling the story of a blind man who tries to save the life of a fish, was screened at the festival, which was held on November 29.

 

Over 1000 works submitted to Tehran animation festival

TEHRAN – Over 1000 works have so far been submitted to the 9th Tehran International Animation Festival, which will be held from March 8 to 12.

 

The submissions are from 73 countries, the Institute for Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults, which is the organizer of the festival, announced on Tuesday.

 

“Man Outside” to go on stage in Tehran

TEHRAN – “The Man Outside” written by German dramatist Wolfgang Borchert will go on stage at Tehran’s Hafez Hall from December 15.

 

Iman Eskandari will direct the play, which describes the hopelessness of a post-war soldier called Beckmann who returns from Russia to find that he has lost his wife and his home, as well as his illusions and beliefs. 

 

SB/YAW

END

 

---

Islamic Conference of Information Ministers achieves positive results: Iranian official

December 9, 2014, 12:57 pm

≫ Next: Tehran galleries to host festival of video, sound, and performances

≪ Previous: Art news in brief

$

0

0

TEHRAN -- Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance spokesman Hossein Nushabadi has said that the 10th Islamic Conference of Information Ministers (ICIM) in Tehran achieved positive results.

 

The conference was appropriately organized and has received extensive media coverage worldwide, Nushabadi said during a press conference on Tuesday.

 

The 10th Islamic Conference of Information Ministers (ICIM), which is annually organized by the state members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, was held in Tehran from December 1 to 3.

 

The conference was held with the theme of “Media Convergence for Peace and Calm in the Islamic World” and focused on the most pressing issues in the Muslim world including Islamophobia.

 

In a letter signed by 180 MPs on Tuesday, the Iranian parliament thanked the Culture Ministry over organizing the conference.

 

SB/YAW

END

 

Tehran galleries to host festival of video, sound, and performances

December 9, 2014, 12:58 pm

≫ Next: Tehran galleries to host festival of video, sound, and performances

≪ Previous: Islamic Conference of Information Ministers achieves positive results: Iranian official

$

0

0

TEHRAN – Several galleries in Tehran will be hosting a non-competitive festival of video, sound, and performances by Iranian and foreign artists.

 

The fifth edition of the festival entitled “Limited Access Five” will open at the galleries of Aran, Vista, Darbast and No. 6 on December 19, the organizers announced on Tuesday.

 

Parkingallery is the main organizer of the festival, which will be held in collaboration with the cultural sections of the embassies of Austria, Poland and Ireland.

 

“The Wandering Island” and “Part of Me” are the two sections in which experimental video works will be screened.

 

“Routine Surprise” covers the documentary section of the project.

 

Films produced by the Experimental Film Society of Dublin will be screened in part of the international section of the festival.

 

Several other sections cover works by young artists from Poland and Austria. 

 

The exhibit will be running until December 26. 

 

RM/YAW

END

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tehran galleries to host festival of video, sound, and performances

December 9, 2014, 1:04 pm

≫ Next: National library plans to publish rare copy of Holy Quran

≪ Previous: Tehran galleries to host festival of video, sound, and performances

$

0

0

TEHRAN – Several galleries in Tehran will be hosting a non-competitive festival of video, sound, and performances by Iranian and foreign artists.

 

The fifth edition of the festival entitled “Limited Access Five” will open at the galleries of Aran, Vista, Darbast and No. 6 on December 19, the organizers announced on Tuesday.

 

Parkingallery is the main organizer of the festival, which will be held in collaboration with the cultural sections of the embassies of Austria, Poland and Ireland.

 

“The Wandering Island” and “Part of Me” are the two sections in which experimental video works will be screened.

 

“Routine Surprise” covers the documentary section of the project.

 

Films produced by the Experimental Film Society of Dublin will be screened in part of the international section of the festival.

 

Several other sections cover works by young artists from Poland and Austria. 

 

The exhibit will be running until December 26. 

 

RM/YAW

END

 

 

 

 

 

 

National library plans to publish rare copy of Holy Quran

December 9, 2014, 1:06 pm

≫ Next: Art news in brief

≪ Previous: Tehran galleries to host festival of video, sound, and performances

$

0

0

TEHRAN – The National Library and Archives of Iran (NLAI) plans to publish a rare copy the Holy Quran, which was calligraphed and illustrated during the nineteenth century.  

A publisher from the private sector will be commissioned to publish the holy book, NLAI Director Reza Salehi-Amiri told the Persian service of MNA on Tuesday.
    
He said that four kilograms of gold ink have been used to illuminate the 570-page Quran, which has been inscribed by 35 different calligraphers.

The first two pages of the copy have been sealed by
Qajar king Nasser ad-Din Shah (1831-1896).

Another Qajar king, Fat’hali Shah, donated the copy to one of his grandchildren, and the copy was later purchased and donated to the library in 2008.

Salehi-Amiri said that the NLAI will supervise the entire process of publication to avoid any damage to the original copy.

RM/YAW
END


 

Art news in brief

December 10, 2014, 2:28 pm

≫ Next: Iranian artist to display intaglio prints in Dubai

≪ Previous: National library plans to publish rare copy of Holy Quran

$

0

0

Vocalist Hengameh Akhavan to give concert in Tehran

TEHRAN – Iranian vocalist Hengameh Akhavan will give a concert at Tehran’s Vahdat Hall on December 26.

 

Only women will be allowed to attend the concert, during which she is scheduled to perform classical Iranian songs.

 

Tar player Azadeh Amiri, kamancheh players Shima Bolukifar and Nasim Arbabi, tonbak player Nazanin Pedarsani, and oud player Marjan Ravandi will accompany her during the performance.

 

Tehran museum to display photos of Muharram mourning rituals 

TEHRAN – A photo exhibition exploring mourning rituals for Imam Hussein (AS) and his companions from the Qajar era in 18th century to modern times opens at the Imam Ali (AS) Religious Arts Museum today.

 

Seventy photos will go on display in the exhibit, which will run until December 27.

 

SB/YAW

END

 

Iranian artist to display intaglio prints in Dubai

December 10, 2014, 2:31 pm

≫ Next: Leader’s commendation for “Thirsty Windows” unveiled

≪ Previous: Art news in brief

$

0

0

TEHRAN – The established Iranian artist Parvaneh Etemadi will offer her latest collection, a suite of 10 original intaglio prints, in a solo exhibit in Dubai’s Jamm Gallery on December 15.

 

Entitled “Fish and Moon”, the work is inspired by the 13th century mystic and poet Farid od-Din Attar Neyshaburi’ poem “Conference of the Birds”, which highlights the alienation of man from humanity, the gallery has announced on its webpage.

 

According to Etemadi, there are only 50 copies of the book, which many have expressed interest in buying. The artist plans to display her works in an exhibition in Tehran in the future.

 

Etemadi currently lives and works in Tehran. Her works have received international acclaim. Some of her artworks are in the permanent collections of the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Arts, the Centre Georges Pompidou and the Asia Society.

 

RM/YAW

END

 

Leader’s commendation for “Thirsty Windows” unveiled

December 10, 2014, 2:37 pm

≫ Next: Culture minister meets representative of UNESCO office in Tehran

≪ Previous: Iranian artist to display intaglio prints in Dubai

$

0

0

TEHRAN -- Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei’s commendation for “Thirsty Windows”, a book written by Mehdi Qezeli, was unveiled during a ceremony on Tuesday.

 

“It has been written in an excellent and elegant style, and with an artistic, curious and pointed perspective,” the Leader wrote about the book, which has recently been published by Sureh-Mehr.

 

Qezeli wrote the diary in his trip to Karbala during November and December 2012 when he accompanied a caravan transferring the new zarih (outer sarcophagus enclosure) of the holy shrine of Imam Hussein (AS) from Iran to the Iraqi city. The zarih was designed and constructed by Iranian artisans in Qom.

 

“The Division of the Good”, which is a 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war memoir by Iranian veteran Mehdi Qoli-Rezaii, and “I’m Alive”, which is the memoirs of Masumeh Abad during her long captivity in Iraq during the 1980s, have previously received commendations from the Leader.

 

MMS/YAW

END

 

---

Culture minister meets representative of UNESCO office in Tehran

December 10, 2014, 2:32 pm

≫ Next: Iranian university to host Intl. Conference on Quran Translation

≪ Previous: Leader’s commendation for “Thirsty Windows” unveiled

$

0

0

TEHRAN –Iranian Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Ali Jannati met with Director and Representative of UNESCO’s cluster office in Tehran Esther Kuisch Laroche in his office on Tuesday.

 

Expansion of cultural, educational and media relations between Iran and UNESCO was discussed during the meeting, the Persian service of IRNA reported.

 

Jananti said that the Culture Ministry is ready to cooperate with UNESCO’s cluster office in Tehran, adding, “We anticipate that the office will cooperate with Iran in developing educational and cultural ties.”

 

Iran also wants the UNESCO office to support Iran’s programs and projects that are offered at UNESCO’s public conferences and commissions, and refer to Iran’s special occasions registered on UNESCO celebration list.

 

The 800th birth anniversary of Persian Sufi Najmuddin Kubra, the 800th birth anniversary of Persian poet and writer Fakhr ad-Din Ibrahim Iraqi, and the 600th birth anniversary of Iranian theoretician and musician Abdul-Qadir Maraghi have been registered on UNESCO’s celebration list of anniversaries for 2014 and 2015.

 

Esther Kuisch Laroche, for her part, said that UNESCO office in Tehran is active in culture, education and communication arenas, and that the office can have good relations with Iran in the cultural and communications fields.

 

Measures need to be taken to introduce Iran’s rich heritage and help provided for their registration on UNESCO list, she said.

 

She added that several workshops have so far been held, and several more workshops will be arranged for journalists to reinforce their skills.

 

Kuisch Laroche also welcomed Jannati’s proposal on educating Iranian cultural attachés and called it a good idea.

 

RM/YAW

END

 

Iranian university to host Intl. Conference on Quran Translation

December 10, 2014, 2:39 pm

≫ Next: Art news in brief

≪ Previous: Culture minister meets representative of UNESCO office in Tehran

$

0

0

TEHRAN – Iran’s Allameh Tabatabai University will host the first International Conference on Quran Translation on December 16 and 17.

 

Translators from China, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Pakistan, Turkey, France, Russia and Spain will attend the event, secretary of the conference Hossein Mollanazar said in a press release on Tuesday.

 

The event has been organized by the university and Iran’s Islamic Culture and Relations Organization (ICRO), he added.

 

The conference will explore more than 70 items about the translation of the Holy Quran, he explained.

 

He said that translated versions of the Quran in eight languages will be discussed by experts during the event.

 

Over 150 translated versions of the Quran will go on display during a book fair on the sidelines of the conference.

 

The articles, which will be presented during the conference, were translated into Persian and English and are available in the conference’s catalogue, he added.

 

“Authorized and Unauthorized Translated Versions of Quran”, “Importance and Necessity of Translating Quran” and “Distortions in Quran Translation” are some of the subjects to be discussed at the conference.

 

The conference will be held with the help of Iran’s Center for Translation of the Holy Quran, the Hazrat Masumeh University of Qom and the World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought.

 

SB/YAW

END

 

Art news in brief

December 10, 2014, 2:28 pm

≫ Next: Iranian artist to display intaglio prints in Dubai

≪ Previous: Iranian university to host Intl. Conference on Quran Translation

$

0

0

Vocalist Hengameh Akhavan to give concert in Tehran

TEHRAN – Iranian vocalist Hengameh Akhavan will give a concert at Tehran’s Vahdat Hall on December 26.

 

Only women will be allowed to attend the concert, during which she is scheduled to perform classical Iranian songs.

 

Tar player Azadeh Amiri, kamancheh players Shima Bolukifar and Nasim Arbabi, tonbak player Nazanin Pedarsani, and oud player Marjan Ravandi will accompany her during the performance.

 

Tehran museum to display photos of Muharram mourning rituals 

TEHRAN – A photo exhibition exploring mourning rituals for Imam Hussein (AS) and his companions from the Qajar era in 18th century to modern times opens at the Imam Ali (AS) Religious Arts Museum today.

 

Seventy photos will go on display in the exhibit, which will run until December 27.

 

SB/YAW

END

 

Iranian artist to display intaglio prints in Dubai

December 10, 2014, 2:31 pm

≫ Next: Leader’s commendation for “Thirsty Windows” unveiled

≪ Previous: Art news in brief

$

0

0

TEHRAN – The established Iranian artist Parvaneh Etemadi will offer her latest collection, a suite of 10 original intaglio prints, in a solo exhibit in Dubai’s Jamm Gallery on December 15.

 

Entitled “Fish and Moon”, the work is inspired by the 13th century mystic and poet Farid od-Din Attar Neyshaburi’ poem “Conference of the Birds”, which highlights the alienation of man from humanity, the gallery has announced on its webpage.

 

According to Etemadi, there are only 50 copies of the book, which many have expressed interest in buying. The artist plans to display her works in an exhibition in Tehran in the future.

 

Etemadi currently lives and works in Tehran. Her works have received international acclaim. Some of her artworks are in the permanent collections of the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Arts, the Centre Georges Pompidou and the Asia Society.

 

RM/YAW

END

 

Leader’s commendation for “Thirsty Windows” unveiled

December 10, 2014, 2:37 pm

≫ Next: Culture minister meets representative of UNESCO office in Tehran

≪ Previous: Iranian artist to display intaglio prints in Dubai

$

0

0

TEHRAN -- Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei’s commendation for “Thirsty Windows”, a book written by Mehdi Qezeli, was unveiled during a ceremony on Tuesday.

 

“It has been written in an excellent and elegant style, and with an artistic, curious and pointed perspective,” the Leader wrote about the book, which has recently been published by Sureh-Mehr.

 

Qezeli wrote the diary in his trip to Karbala during November and December 2012 when he accompanied a caravan transferring the new zarih (outer sarcophagus enclosure) of the holy shrine of Imam Hussein (AS) from Iran to the Iraqi city. The zarih was designed and constructed by Iranian artisans in Qom.

 

“The Division of the Good”, which is a 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war memoir by Iranian veteran Mehdi Qoli-Rezaii, and “I’m Alive”, which is the memoirs of Masumeh Abad during her long captivity in Iraq during the 1980s, have previously received commendations from the Leader.

 

MMS/YAW

END

 

Culture minister meets representative of UNESCO office in Tehran

December 10, 2014, 2:32 pm

≫ Next: Iranian university to host Intl. Conference on Quran Translation

≪ Previous: Leader’s commendation for “Thirsty Windows” unveiled

$

0

0

TEHRAN –Iranian Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Ali Jannati met with Director and Representative of UNESCO’s cluster office in Tehran Esther Kuisch Laroche in his office on Tuesday.

 

Expansion of cultural, educational and media relations between Iran and UNESCO was discussed during the meeting, the Persian service of IRNA reported.

 

Jananti said that the Culture Ministry is ready to cooperate with UNESCO’s cluster office in Tehran, adding, “We anticipate that the office will cooperate with Iran in developing educational and cultural ties.”

 

Iran also wants the UNESCO office to support Iran’s programs and projects that are offered at UNESCO’s public conferences and commissions, and refer to Iran’s special occasions registered on UNESCO celebration list.

 

The 800th birth anniversary of Persian Sufi Najmuddin Kubra, the 800th birth anniversary of Persian poet and writer Fakhr ad-Din Ibrahim Iraqi, and the 600th birth anniversary of Iranian theoretician and musician Abdul-Qadir Maraghi have been registered on UNESCO’s celebration list of anniversaries for 2014 and 2015.

 

Esther Kuisch Laroche, for her part, said that UNESCO office in Tehran is active in culture, education and communication arenas, and that the office can have good relations with Iran in the cultural and communications fields.

 

Measures need to be taken to introduce Iran’s rich heritage and help provided for their registration on UNESCO list, she said.

 

She added that several workshops have so far been held, and several more workshops will be arranged for journalists to reinforce their skills.

 

Kuisch Laroche also welcomed Jannati’s proposal on educating Iranian cultural attachés and called it a good idea.

 

RM/YAW

END

 

Iranian university to host Intl. Conference on Quran Translation

December 10, 2014, 2:39 pm

≫ Next: What’s in art galleries

≪ Previous: Culture minister meets representative of UNESCO office in Tehran

$

0

0

TEHRAN – Iran’s Allameh Tabatabai University will host the first International Conference on Quran Translation on December 16 and 17.

 

Translators from China, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Pakistan, Turkey, France, Russia and Spain will attend the event, secretary of the conference Hossein Mollanazar said in a press release on Tuesday.

 

The event has been organized by the university and Iran’s Islamic Culture and Relations Organization (ICRO), he added.

 

The conference will explore more than 70 items about the translation of the Holy Quran, he explained.

 

He said that translated versions of the Quran in eight languages will be discussed by experts during the event.

 

Over 150 translated versions of the Quran will go on display during a book fair on the sidelines of the conference.

 

The articles, which will be presented during the conference, were translated into Persian and English and are available in the conference’s catalogue, he added.

 

“Authorized and Unauthorized Translated Versions of Quran”, “Importance and Necessity of Translating Quran” and “Distortions in Quran Translation” are some of the subjects to be discussed at the conference.

 

The conference will be held with the help of Iran’s Center for Translation of the Holy Quran, the Hazrat Masumeh University of Qom and the World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought.

 

SB/YAW

END

 

---

What’s in art galleries

December 13, 2014, 11:52 am

≫ Next: Art news in brief

≪ Previous: Iranian university to host Intl. Conference on Quran Translation

$

0

0

 Photo
 

* A collection of photos of the Arbaeen mourning rituals are on display at an exhibition, which is underway at the pedestrian underpass located at the Vali-e Asr and Enqelab intersection. 

 

Arbaeen marks the end of the 40-day mourning period following the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (AS) and his companions on Ashura.

 

The collection contains photos by Masud Zenderuh, Saeid Mahmudi, Ali Solati, Sajjad Mokhtarzadegan, Jasem Ghazbanpur and Manusreh Motamedi.

 

The exhibition runs until December 23.

 

Calligraphic painting

 

* Calligraphic paintings by Esrafil Shirchi are on display in an exhibition at the Niavaran Cultural Center.

 

The exhibition runs until January 7 at the center located on Pasdaran Ave., in the Niavaran neighborhood.

 

 

 Miniature/illumination 

 

* Miniature paintings and illuminations by Sommayeh and Marzieh Ahmadinia are on display in an exhibition at Gallery 2 of the Niavaran Cultural Center.

The exhibition runs until December 15 at the center located on Pasdaran Ave. in the Niavaran neighborhood.

 

Painting

 

* Paintings by Raha Mohseni Kermanshahi are on display in an exhibition at the Gallery 1 of the Niavaran Cultural Center.

 

The exhibition runs until December 15 at the gallery located on Pasdaran Ave. in the Niavaran neighborhood.

 

* Gallery 26 is currently hosting an exhibition of paintings by Hamed Shahir.

 

The exhibition runs until December 22 at the gallery located at 26 Salmanpur-Zahir St. off Eastern Farmanieh Ave.

 

* An exhibition of paintings by Shirin Ettehadieh is currently underway at Azad Gallery.

 

The exhibition runs until January 3 at the gallery, which can be found at 103 Vesal St.

 

Multimedia

 

* A collection of digital artworks, paintings and sculptures by a group of artists is currently underway in an exhibition at Atbin Gallery.

 

Works by Amir Azar, Arghavan Khosravi, Sara Rahanjam, Parham Qalamdar, Babak Yaquti, Sohrab Haqiqi, Shakiba Parvaresh and several other artists are on show at the exhibition, which runs until December 21.

 

The gallery is located at 42 Khakzad Alley, Parkway Intersection, Vali-e Asr Ave.

 

SB/YAW

END

   

 

Art news in brief

December 13, 2014, 11:53 am

≫ Next: ICRO to hold Arbaeen world photo contest

≪ Previous: What’s in art galleries

$

0

0

Painter Parviz Kalantari hospitalized following stroke  

TEHRAN – Painter and children’s book illustrator Parviz Kalantari, known for his works on Iranian desert villages, was admitted to Tehran’s Treata Hospital after suffering a stroke on Tuesday last week.

 

“His health deteriorated to the point that he was transferred from the CCU to the ICU,” his wife, Farrokh Yusefi, told the Persian service of MNA.

 

Kalantari, 83, has illustrated 26 children’s books. His works also had been published in textbooks for primary schools in the 1970s. 

 

Mahvar to perform for women at Niavaran Cultural Center

TEHRAN – Mahvar, an all-female Iranian ensemble, will give a concert at the Niavaran Cultural Center in Tehran on November 17.

 

Vocalist Mahnaz Rusta is the leader of the ensemble, which is scheduled to perform pieces by Iranian classical musicians Aref Qazvini, Ali Tajvidi and Homayun Khorram.

 

The members of the ensemble are Ghazal Mahdavi, Niusha Barimani and Asal Malekzadeh. Only women are allowed to attend the concert.

 

SB/YAW

END

 

ICRO to hold Arbaeen world photo contest

December 13, 2014, 12:07 pm

≫ Next: Tehran gallery hangs works by U.S. painters

≪ Previous: Art news in brief

$

0

0

TEHRAN – Iran’s Islamic Culture and Relations Organizations (ICRO) plans to organize an international photo contest with the central theme of Arbaeen.

 

Arbaeen marks the end of a 40-day mourning period following the martyrdom of Imam Hussein (AS) and his companions on Ashura.

 

Photos of people walking to Karbala to attend the Arbaeen mourning rituals in Iran and other countries, and other major events related to Arbaeen are among the central subjects of the contest.

 

Photos taken by cell phones must be sent to the following email address arbaeen@icro.ir and other digital photos must be sent to the Public Relations Office of ICRO in Tehran before January 11.

 

Hundreds of thousands of Shia Muslims from around the world come together in the Iraqi city of Karbala, which is home to the shrine of Imam Hussein (AS) and his brother Hazrat Abbas (AS), to commemorate Arbaeen. 

 

The first three Iranian winners will receive the awards for a 10-day trip to Karbala.

 

The first three foreign winners will receive the award for a 10-day trip to Mashhad, the northeastern Iranian city, which is home to the shrine of Imam Reza (AS).

 

RM/YAW

END

 

Tehran gallery hangs works by U.S. painters

December 13, 2014, 12:08 pm

≫ Next: “Tales” director wins APSA jury grand prize

≪ Previous: ICRO to hold Arbaeen world photo contest

$

0

0

TEHRAN -- An exhibition displaying works by three U.S. abstract painters are currently underway at Tehran’s Ovissi Gallery.

 

Thirteen works by Sheila Rice, Fernando DeOliviera and Brian Xavier will be on display until December 17 at the exhibit.

 

“My work is about the flow of joy and consciousness that animates my inner world,” DeOliviera wrote in a catalogue for his exhibition, which was held at the Alternative Art Space in Boston from December 2 to 7.

 

“I am an emotional person who believes that we can meet through art, and my art attempts to share my emotions and perceptions with each viewer in a very personal, intimate way,” he added.

 

Ovissi Gallery is located at 7 Azar Alley, Nateq-Nuri St., Gol-Nabi St., Pasdaran Ave.

 

The works are scheduled to another exhibition, which will open at Tehran’s Sheis Gallery on December 18.

 

The exhibition will run for five days at the gallery, which can be found at 10 Shirzad Alley, near Daneshju Park, Vali-e Asr Ave.

 

MMS/YAW

END

 

“Tales” director wins APSA jury grand prize

December 13, 2014, 12:03 pm

≫ Next: Actor Anushirvan Arjmand dies at 73

≪ Previous: Tehran gallery hangs works by U.S. painters

$

0

0

TEHRAN -- Iranian director Rakhshan Bani-Etemad has won one of the two jury grand prizes at the 8th Asia Pacific Screen Award for her acclaimed social drama “Tales”.

 

Another jury grand prize was presented to producers Nai An, Li Ling, Kristina Larsen and Wang Yong for their collaboration in the Chinese film “Blind Massage” during the award ceremony, which was held at Brisbane’s City Hall on Thursday evening.

 

Russian film “Leviathan” produced by Alexander Rodnyansky, Sergey Melkumov, and Marianna Sardarova was crowned best film and Turkish director Nuri Bilge Ceylan won the best director award for his “Winter Sleep”, which previously won a Palme d’Or at Cannes.

 

Best actor award went to New Zealand’s Cliff Curtis for his role in the film “The Dark Horse”, and Australian actor David Gulpilil received a special mention for his role in “Charlie’s Country”.

 

Lü Zhong from China won a best actress award for her role in “Red Amnesia”, and Iranian actress Merila Zarei received a special mention for her performance in “Track 143”.

 

Best screenplay award was given to Iranian director/writer Nima Javidi for his film “Melbourne”, and Dong Jinsong from China won best cinematographer award for “Black Coal”.

 

Iranian writer/producer/director Reza Dormishian received the APSA Academy NETPAC Development Prize for his second feature film “I’m Not Angry!”. The award, which is a $10,000 cash-prize, is awarded to a first or second-time feature filmmaker by the Griffith Film School and Griffith University.

 

Renowned Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi was president of the APSA jury this year.

 

MMS/YAW

END