A scene from “Lizard–

TEHRAN, Sept. 27--The film “Lizard– by Iranian film director Kamal Tabrizi is among the entries in the Hamburg International Film Festival which is currently underway in Germany.
According to ISNA, the event opened on September 23 with the screening of “Alas, Good Days–.
Some 1,200 guests from 39 countries are attending this year–s event with more than 130 films.
Iran, Turkey, Spain and Denmark are among the participants in the festival, which is a combination of cinematic and documentary films. “Lizard– from Iran, “Turkey Deluxe– from Turkey and “Window Display– from Spain are among the entries in the event which will end on September 30.

An Iranian troupe performing in Tehran

TEHRAN, Sept. 27--The western Indian city of Mumbai recently hosted a gathering on Asian theater industry which was attended by Iran, China, Japan and India, reported IRNA on Sunday.
The Public Relations Department of Islamic Culture and Communications Organization announced that the program of the three-day event included screening films, holding book exhibitions and organizing training and cultural workshop.
At the event, which was organized by Mumbai–s International Cultural Relations Center, the Chinese Consulate General in the city as well as Iran–s Cultural Office in Mumbai, Qotboddin Sadeqi, an instructor at Iranian universities delivered lectures on the history of traditional and modern theater in Japan, China and Iran.
An exhibition of books, brochures, posters as well as Iranian films and plays was arranged by Iran–s Cultural Office on the sidelines of the event.

ISFAHAN, Sept. 27--A book titled 'Foreigners Interred in Isfahan' has been published in English and Persian languages for the first time by an Isfahani researcher, Houshang Mazaheri.
According to ISNA, from the rule of Shah Abbas of the Safavid Dynasty to 2000, the remains of some 230 notable foreign figures including William Brell, British envoy to the court of Shah Abbas, General Browski, a Napoleonic general who was the main architect of the Herat War, Professor Pope, Rafael Domant and Johann Nortember, a representative of Shah Abbas I have been buried in this picturesque city, 180 and 50 of which have been interred in Aramaneh Cemetery and Isfahan churches respectively.
The cover of the book depicts a tile engraved with the name of Jesus Christ in the middle and eight characteristics of him in the periphery.
The tile itself is located on the fa�ade of a prayer room in Doghai Church.
It is said that a western tourist recently took a picture of the tile which was published as a post cards throughout the world.

TEHRAN, Sept. 27--Scrutinizing cultural works, particularly those in the book sector, is a kind of provocation which will entail extensive repercussion action in the society.
Expressing this view, Manager of Gam-e Nou Publishing House Ali Reza Rajaei told ISNA that censorship is not at all acceptable in the cultural sector except when cultural works pose a threat to the society. In this case, he added, the issue should be dealt with in accordance with the law.
However, sometimes a political party, due to certain considerations, resorts to censorship thus creating restrictions for the cultural field, he said, adding that censorship is acceptable in certain cases, which is prevalent all over the world.
Rajaei stressed, —Censorship in the book sector is mostly politically oriented.š
Following May 23, 1997, when President Khatami won the presidential elections in a landslide victory for the first time, the publication sector experienced prosperity and bright future, he noted, adding, —The number of publishers and books increased and the rate of issuing permits accelerated.
Unfortunately after 2000 due to pressures on the government and the changes at the helm of the minister of culture and Islamic guidance, the tide turned, he said.
He further stated that worst of all was that the judiciary prosecuted some publishers even though they had obtained authorization from the ministry for publishing their books. Such pressures are unnatural since the criterion for censorship should be based on social considerations according to the norms.

TEHRAN, Sept. 27--Iran and South Africa will develop cultural cooperation, particularly in the field of language and literature, the Islamic Culture and Communications Organization (ICCO) announced.
A press release issued by the organization added that a South African cultural delegation held talks with head of the Center for Promoting Persian Language affiliated to the ICCO and several Persian language instructors in Tehran on ways to develop Persian literature in South Africa.
Iranian university instructors Dr. Tamim-Dari and Dr. Monshizadeh said that Iran is ready to set up a center for Persian language and literature and linguistic studies in South Africa.
Head of the Center for Promoting Persian Language Mohammad Khani said that Persian language has an extensive background in North Africa, but, it is not well-known in South Africa and Iran is willing to promote Persian language in the south.
He said that Iran is keen on launching Persian language courses for South African students and university teachers.
Mohammad Khani proposed the signing of an agreement between an Iranian and a South African university on cooperation in the field of language and literature of the two nations.
The South African delegation welcomed the proposal and said that they would convey it to the relevant officials in their country.

TEHRAN, Sept. 27--“The Lead Road–, a memoir of a combatant of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ahmad Sodagar has been compiled by Mohammad Mehdi Behdarvand and published by Sureh Mehr Publishing House.
The publisher said in a press release that the book provides the essence of 37 cassettes of speech delivered by Ahmad Sodagar.
The soldier joined the ranks of the Islamic Republic Army shortly after Iraqi troops launched a surprise attack against Iranian territory both on the southern and the western borders.
Sodagar said in his memoirs that he rushed to the warfronts shortly after the late Imam Khomeini summoned the youth to do so to safeguard dignity of the nation.
The book has been compiled in 19 chapters which include his memoirs about nights of offensive against occupying troops, the defenders who were stationed along the borders and the first experience in the battlefield. —The fresh troops did not have the weak points of the former ones. I arrived at Zeid and Bubyan border check point as a member of the first contingent to take up position there,š read part of the book.
“The Lead Road– has 313 pages and is printed in 2,200 copies.

TEHRAN, Sept. 27--Iran and China have agreed to cooperate in the cinema sector and exchange feature films, reported IRNA.
The agreement to this effect was signed at the end of talks between an Iranian official in charge of cinema affairs, Mohammad Ali Hossein-Nejad and Chinese director general for cinema and films affairs Jang Pee Min in Beijing.
According to the agreement, Iran and China will cooperate in film production, marketing and screening in both countries, investment in the film industry and holding film weeks.
Iranian and Chinese officials also agreed to provide each other and regional states with facilities to produce feature films and establish Asian film market which will be held once in Iran and China every year to supply films from Iran, China and other Asian states.
An Iranian film week will be held in China in the next few months while a Chinese film week will take place in Iran next year to mark the centenary of the Chinese cinema industry.
An Iranian delegation is currently visiting Beijing.

TEHRAN, Sept. 27--Seven members belonging to three international gangs involved in the smuggling of artifacts from Jiroft have been arrested.
Announcing this, the head of the revolutionary court in Jiroft, Dadkhoda Salari told the Persian daily Hambastegi that the three gangs were engaged in smuggling ancient artifacts from Jiroft in Kerman province to the United Arab Emirates and then to destinations in Europe including Britain.
The Intelligence Ministry and the Islamic Republic of Iran Police (IRIP) extended full cooperation in tracking down the smugglers.
Salari said that seven people, who were the ringleaders of the three gangs, have been arrested. —Two of them were living in Dubai while the other members were residing in Jiroft and Qahreman.š
He said that the smugglers bought the artifacts from illegal excavators in Jiroft historical site and shipped them to the UAE before selling them to brokers in Europe.
Iran has sought the assistance of the International Police (Interpol) in arresting other members of the gangs from the Persian Gulf littoral states, Turkey and Pakistan, said Salari.
He said that Iran will take legal action against the brokers who have sold the 5,000-year-old Iranian artifacts in Europe through auction and seek their extradition.
Salari said two weeks ago that seven international gangs involved in the smuggling of artifacts from Jiroft have been identified.