The latest cultural headlines in the media.

Iranian Cultural Festival opens in Beirut

Tehran Times: The first Iranian Cultural Festival was inaugurated at the UNESCO Palace in Beirut on July 2, highlighting Persian art and culture.

Iranian Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Mohammad Hosseini and Lebanese Culture Minister Gaby Layoun as well as Iranian ambassador in Beirut Ghazanfar Roknabadi were among the participants at the opening ceremony.

A variety of programs are arranged to be held during the festival including film screenings and live music performances, the Persian service of IRNA reported on Tuesday.

Several pavilions are also set up offering Persian artworks, Persian handicrafts, and Persian carpets, the report added.

Exhibitions of photos introducing Iranian historical monuments such as Persepolis in Shiraz, Amir Chakhmaq Square in Yazd, and Chehel-Sotun Palace in Isfahan are also arranged for the festival.

Making a brief speech at the opening ceremony, Lebanese minister said that his country is ready to host a cultural festival in Iran in the future.

Gaby Layoun also said that it is important for his country to collaborate in cultural activities with Iran, which has supported Lebanon in fighting against the Zionist regime.

Hosseini next said that Arabic translations of Persian poetry by Hafez, Sadi and Khayyam prove the interest of Lebanese in Persian poetry.

He also added a great number of Lebanese books have been rendered into Persian indicating the interest of both countries.

The ceremony was brought to an end paying visits to different exhibitions. The festival will be running until July 6.

-------------------------------

Iranian festival honors artists for anti-imperialist works

Tehran Times: The Tabas Music and Poetry Festival honored five Iranian cartoonists and cineastes for their anti-imperialist themed works during its closing ceremony on Tuesday.

The two-day festival marked the occasion of 24th anniversary of downing of Flight 655 by the U.S. battleship Vincennes.

Cineastes Nader Talebzadeh for his TV series “Hour 25” and Hossein Zandbaf for his movie “The Hand of Devil” were honored during the event.

The festival also honored Cartoonist Ali Davudi for his book “Shahr-e Farang’s Posters”, Mohammad Hossein Nirumand for his book “Cartoons on Abu Ghraib’s in the hats” and Masud Shojaei Tabatabaei for “Advices to U.S. soldiers”.

The families of martyr Mehdi Rajab-beigi, Mohsen Vazvaei, Bijan Gerd, and Nader Mahdavi were also honored during the festival.

The U.S. Navy guided missile cruiser USS Vincennes shot down Iran Air Flight 655 over the Persian Gulf on July 3, 1988, killing all 290 passengers and crew members, including 66 children.

The name of the festival “Tabas” alludes to the United States’ failed attack on Iran, which was aborted in the desert near Tabas in 1980.

The festival was held at the former U.S. Embassy in Tehran, dubbed the “Den of Spies” by Imam Khomeini.

----------------------------------

Sadabad Displays Holy Qur’an Copy

Iran Daily: A copy of the holy Qur’an designed in calligraphy style ‘Shekasteh Nasataliq’ by Alireza Babaei will be unveiled today at Sadabad Historical-Cultural Complex.
According to the public relations office of the complex, Ali Abdollahnejad, manager of the complex, said the ceremony will mark July 4 known as ‘Pen Day’. The Qur’an copy is prepared by Persian calligraphy master Alireza Babaei.
As he said, all pages of the work are decorated with gold and the style Shekasteh Nastaliq which is one of the most popular Persian calligraphic styles, IBNA wrote.
He also said that the decoration of the exquisite copies of the holy Qur’an in the center is done in the Islamic-Iranian fashion. He further added that copy will be put on public display until July 15.

Id : 142154