TEHRAN, Nov. 1--An opinion poll conducted by the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting’s Research Center indicates that some 59 percent of Iranian children have called on the national broadcaster to produce programs on the lifestyle of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
According to Fars, the level of children’s information about the messenger’s life was the focus of research studies undertaken by the center earlier in autumn.
Evaluating children’s awareness about the prophet’s companions and relatives, his ascension to prophethood as well as wars during his divine mission were among the other pivots of the studies.
The poll revealed that 13 percent of respondents had high information about the prophet’s life while 43.5 percent and were at mid-level with the remainder was low. Sources of information about the prophet’s life were textbooks, families, TV and radio as well as ceremonies to the effect.
Based on the research, 59 percent of children are interested in watching programs about the events which took place during the prophet’s lifetime while 41 percent urged IRIB to produce programs on moral traits.
Almost half of children showed interest in films and serials about the prophet. Some 74 percent favored production of an animation featuring the prophet’s life.
Results of the poll can open new horizons for artists wishing to deal further with such issue in the year which has been designated as the Year of Holy Prophet by the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.

TEHRAN, Nov. 1--Second Festival of Religious Short Film themed ’Rooyesh’ opened in the holy city of Mashhad, Khorasan Razavi province, on Monday and will continue until November 2.
A total of 153 short films are participating in three categories of the event.
The festival’s secretary, Seyyed Mohammad Sadeq Morakabi, said at the inaugural ceremony that the festival includes categories such as ’film’, ’film script and ideas’ and ’research papers’, IRNA reported.
“A total of 72 films, 57 works in ’film script and ideas’ section and 26 papers in research paper section were selected for the competition section,“ Morakabi added.
He pointed out that the panel of jury is reviewing the works submitted to the festival.
Two members of the festival’s panel of jury, Nasser Refaei and Habibollah Bahmani elaborated on the need for holding such a festival, reported the daily Bonnie Film.
Refaei said that such festivals provide filmmakers with an opportunity to look at social issues in a more specialized manner.
Noting that the number of films submitted to the secretariat of the festival was higher than expected, he said that it was decided that films will be selected without any precondition.
Commenting on the quality of films taking part in the festival, Refaei pointed out that it was very difficult to make a decision about the quality of works.
Another jury member, Bahmani, pointed out that the peculiarity of this festival is the large number of films participating in the festival. “Fortunately, the number of films of acceptable quality was quite high,“ he added.
A total of 153 short films participated in three categories of the event. The Second Religious Short Film Festival was held concurrently in Mashhad, Khuzestan, East Azarbaijan, Lorestan, Kurdestan, Isfahan and Golestan provinces from Oct. 30 to Nov. 2.

TEHRAN, Nov. 1--Living conditions of the society influence the form of stories created by authors, observed Qobad Azar-Aiyn, an Iranian storywriter, reported ISNA.
He said that naturally, time, misery, routine way of living and concerns about livelihood dampen the interest in reading novels.
He further observed that novels should be read with peace of mind.
Describing the biggest problems facing novelists as the strains of life and concerns about making ends meet, he added that writing novels needs time and peace of mind on the one hand and a patient readership, on the other.
“When a reader is grappling with daily problems, he will hardly be able to read even a newspaper and I should not be expected to write a book like ’Kaleidar’, an epic by noted writer Mahmoud Dolatabadi.“
Azar-Aiyn recalled that most of the novels are in fact short stories which are extended somehow.
The characteristics of a novel cannot be manifested in any long story, he noted, adding, “Whatever we present are not often novels and their contents can be presented in a short story.“
They are short stories which are extended by force, he noted. The writer hoped that the problems challenging the writers would be overcome so that they would be able to present the human issues in the best manner.

TEHRAN, Nov. 1--Planning is one of the most essential factors in helping the growth of domestic film industry, including educational films and cinema, observed movie director Abolfazl Jalili.
He pointed out that the growth in domestic cinema depends on identifying its language and making proper use of this, Fars reported.
“Cinema depicts a part of realities and for visualizing these realities, one should have faith and belief as well,“ added Jalili, who directed the film ’Abjad’.
Commenting on the role of virtual education in cinema, he pointed out that virtual education plays a crucial role in upholding the status of cinema and this should be used in a proper manner in the cinema industry.
“We have not yet reached a favorable level in film production. Hence, more efforts should be made to improve film production,“ he concluded.

TEHRAN, Nov. 1--A member of the Association of Iranian Graphic Designers has said that the second International Islamic World Poster Biennial will help promote graphic designing in the country, Fars reported.
According to the Public Relations Department of Saba Cultural-Artistic Institute affiliated to Arts Academy, Ebrahim Haqiqi described the event as an opportunity for Muslim artists worldwide to exchange experience and information which can help consolidate bonds between them.
Stating that each contest in any artistic field is in fact an investment which will later bear fruit, he said, “I, as a graphic designer, welcome any event featuring this branch of art.“
Expressing concern about restricting graphic designing to the creation of posters, he added that concentrating on this field should not undermine other branches of the art.
The biennial will help transfer the achievements of Muslims at the international level and will open new horizons for Iranian artists, Haqiqi concluded.

TEHRAN, Nov. 1--A veteran actor believes that Razavi Theater Festival is a suitable event but it should be held with greater care and in a meticulous manner.
Fars quoted Ali Nassirian as saying that great care should be taken in organizing the event.
“In my opinion, we should first promote theater industry so that the festivals to that effect will attain their due status,“ he observed.
Commenting on the merger of Razavi Theater Festival and similar events such as Fajr Theater Festival, he said that since the latter features miscellaneous works, the merger of other festivals with the prestigious event will be problematic.
Describing the participation of professional artists in the Fourth Razavi Theater Festival as among the positive points of the event, Nassirian pointed out that the contribution of such people will help improve the festival.

MADRID, Spain, Nov. 1--A Spanish music group, ’Convivencia’, will introduce traditional Iranian music to Spaniards with the aim of promoting the concept of Dialogue Among Cultures, Oriental and Western Religions.
’Convivencia’, which means coexistence, has already begun introducing the common aspects of traditional Iranian music and Spanish flamenco music, IRNA reported.
The Spanish musical group has already shown the influence of Iranian musical systems, Homayoun and Mahour, in Spanish flamenco style of music.
An Iranian artist residing in Madrid, Shahriyar Zarinpancheh, who cooperates with ’Convivencia’, said that dulcimer, tambourine, jazz, tempo and guitar will be used by the Spanish musical group.
’Convivencia’ Band has a 30-year experience and has so far performed three Iranian musical concerts in Spanish cities.
The exact date for holding the musical concert by ’Convivencia’ has not yet been announced.

BEIJING, Nov. 1--Chinese director Chen Kaige, whose movie The Promise harmed a pristine Himalayan lakeside during shooting, has been nominated for a “Green Chinese“ award for raising environmental awareness.
In May, China fined producers of The Promise, at $35 million the most expensive film in Chinese history, for destroying vegetation at Bigu Lake in the southwest province of Yunnan, Xinhua news agency said.
The producers’ failure to conduct an impact assessment and secure permission to build roads and buildings caused a media storm in China and led to regulations punishing film makers who cause environmental damage.
“Sometimes a negative example can serve as a warning,“ Xinhua quoted Wang Panpu, deputy director of the awards committee, as saying.
Chen’s nomination for the annual award, which selects five to 10 Chinese for their “great contribution“ to protecting the environment, drew fire from Internet users.
Apart from Chen, whose 1993 movie Farewell My Concubine garnered an Oscar nomination, the 253-name shortlist for the award includes Zhang Jizhong - a Chinese director whose adaptation of Louis Cha’s martial arts novel The Legend of the Condor Heroes caused environmental damage in China’s World Heritage-listed Jiuzhaigou National Park.

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 1ÑActor Alec Baldwin wants to be removed as narrator of an Arnold Schwarzenegger documentary called Running with Arnold, saying filmmakers went too far by including images of Nazi rallies, AP reports.
Baldwin said he agreed to narrate the documentary about the actor-turned-governor’s political rise based on a reading of the script. He said that when he saw the film as he recorded the tracks he was somewhat dismayed by some of the images.
“The filmmakers hammer Schwarzenegger over his private behavior and his record as governor,“ Baldwin wrote, noting he is not a supporter of the governor. “But Schwarzenegger deserves to be treated fairly and the film’s images of Nazi rallies were over the line.“
Baldwin said he asked that his voice be removed and said he returned payment. He also had his attorney issue a cease-and-desist demand against the filmmakers.