TEHRAN, Nov. 6--A member of Popular Committee to Defend the Retrieval of Cultural and Historical Properties, Abbas Salimi-Namin, has said that the committee has called for the support of 80 museums worldwide for the return of Iran’s ancient clay inscriptions which were illegally confiscated by Chicago University.
Speaking to Fars, he said that the committee has already sent e-mails to museums and asked for their support. “We have also asked for signatures of Iranian expatriates to express their support in different statements,“ he added.
Salimi-Namin, who also heads the Office for Compiling Iranian Contemporary History, noted that the head of the Center for Oriental Studies of Chicago University was supposed to visit Tehran and discuss the activities of his university. He added that the issue of the clay tablets would also be raised in the meeting.
“The committee also planned to hold a meeting with the Oriental Studies Institute of Chicago University on the sideline of International Frankfurt Book Fair but this did not materialize,“ he added.

TEHRAN, Nov. 6--A banner of the holy shrine of Imam Reza (AS), the eighth Imam of the infallible household of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), was presented in a ceremony to a Kuwaiti benefactor and collector of historical stamps and coins of Muslim countries.
A press release of the Astan-e Qods Razavi Foundation, the custodian of Imam Reza’s (AS) holy shrine, said that the Kuwaiti benefactor Ali Seyed Hashem had donated part of his collection to Astan- Qods Razavi Museum.
Officials of Astan-e Qods Razavi Foundation attended the ceremony.
In his opening speech at the ceremony, head of Libraries, Museums and Documents Center of Astan-e Qods Razavi, Ali Mohammad Baradaran-Rafiee elaborated on cultural and scientific achievements of the center in the recent past.
He said that Imam Reza shrine has achieved a unique status in cultural, scientific and developmental terms.
“In the country’s 20-year comprehensive vision the holy sites will turn into the world’s most important pilgrimage and recreational centers,“ he noted.
He pointed out that the pilgrims will also be provided with cultural and recreational facilities.
Baradaran-Rafiee hoped that the banner of Imam Reza’s (AS) holy shrine, which is a symbol of spirituality, will lead to harmony of Muslims in Kuwait.
“We hope that this banner will remind Kuwaiti Shiites of Imam Reza (AS),“ he added.

TEHRAN, Nov. 6--Roshd Film Festival is the only event which is being held annually for 45 years.
Announcing this, secretary of the festival, Ahmad Jolaei said that Students’ Day (November 4) is the best time for holding the event, arguing that in summer the schools are closed and Roshd Festival is an event which involves students. So, if it is held in the summer, it will not have the audience it should, he contended, according to the daily Bonnie Film.
He further stated that early autumn coincides with the reopening of schools which involves a great load of work. Therefore, it is not a suitable time for holding the event either, he noted.
For this reason, early November would be an opportune time for the festival, Jolaei said.
Meanwhile, director of Rooyesh Film Festival Majid Moslehi commented on the frequency of thematic festivals in autumn and said that such events need comprehensive schedules.
Although there is a special institute responsible for the management and timing of festivals, he said that it seems that organizing such events should follow a systematic procedure.
Since the festivals serve as venues for institutes and people to present their capabilities, expert works should be undertaken to adopt modern approaches in organizing festivals, Moslehi concluded.

TEHRAN, Nov. 6--Iranian society today has been terribly parsimonious and since theater is not separated from the society, it has also been affected by the situation.
Expressing this view, an expert on theatrical affairs, Hossein Kiani told a meeting on approaches for theatrical production that the sector experienced an incomplete version of development during the tenure of Mohammad Khatami, former Iranian president, in view of the freedoms in the society.
During the period, some young artists shone in the field, he noted, adding that for the same reason, conditions prevailing in the theater sector can be perceived by conditions dominating the society.
Commenting on the importance of theater groups, he said that since theater is in essence a group undertaking, forming groups plays a crucial role in the advancement of the theater industry.
“In my opinion, the most significant reason for lack of recognition for the theater industry is that it is not dealt with as a cultural necessity in the society,“ he said.
Another expert, Behzad Farahani told the same gathering that professional theater will not make progress without economic support, democracy and job security of those involved in the field.
Non-observance of criteria laid down in the Constitution can hinder the sector, he said, complaining that preferential attitudes dominate the evaluation of plays.

TEHRAN, Nov. 6--Selected artists from the first national festival on visual arts featuring resistance will be dispatched for two-week research studies overseas.
Announcing this, executive deputy of the First Resistance Visual Arts Abdessattar Kakaei told ISNA that top artists in the fields of painting, caricature, poster, illustration, animation, voluminous designs, photo and typography will be presented special prize of two-week leave abroad.
Appreciating all the artists who participated in the event, he pointed out that such a large number of participants indicates that the art of resistance has high capability and potentials. He also called for paying special attention to the art of resistance.
In addition to overseas visas, the top artists as well as those ranking first to third will be awarded gold coins, diploma of honor and statuette of resistance.
“We are doing our best to organize the festival in an extensive level by using the expertise of specialists and artists,“ Kakaei concluded. First National Resistance Visual Arts Festival will be held in the Museum of Contemporary Arts from November 27 to December 16.

Majid Majidi

BEIJING, Nov. 6--Director Majid Majidi, currently visiting China, in a ceremony on Sunday started production of his new documentary “Beijing, 2008 Olympic Games Host.“
According to IRNA, at the ceremony, attended by a number of Chinese and Iranian cultural figures, Majidi hoped that the move will be a starting point for Iran-China joint film production.
Turning to part of the commonalties between the two countries, in particular cultural features, he said millions of Muslims are living in China in peace with other ethnic groups and communities.
He said the film mainly centers on Chinese children, adding that children are the symbol of sincerity and purity.
Majidi hoped his new documentary will contribute to further strengthening of friendly bonds between the two nations.
“The documentary will focus on the traditions, history, culture and civilization of the Chinese capital of Beijing as well as its features as a modern city,“ he said.
He also appreciated close cooperation of Iran’s Cultural Attache Office in China and Beijing Municipality for their assistance in facilitating the production of the documentary.
For his part, Iran’s Cultural Attache in Beijing Mohammad-Javad Aghajari pointed to the 2,000-year history of Iran-China ties and said the documentary film will help broaden relations between the two sides.
The documentary will be screened at the beginning of 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

TEHRAN, Nov. 6--An Iranian translator, Mahmoud Hosseinizad, and a German translator will be responsible for both selecting and translating a number of Persian stories written recently by a number of contemporary Iranian story-writers.
Hosseinizad is presently in talks with a German translator who is familiar with Persian language for selection and translation of Persian stories into German language, ISNA reported.
He said that he wanted to translate contemporary Persian poetry into German, but changed his mind because of the selective approach of some poets with whom he had been in consultation.
Hosseinizad has translated thrillers such as ’Judge and His Killer’, ’Promise’ and ’Suspicion’ by Swiss writer, Friedrich DŸrrenmatt, into Persian.
He has also translated an anthology of seven relatively long stories including ’This Side of Oder River’ by German writer, Yodiut Herman.
Translation of ’For Example! My Brother’ by Uveh Tim has already been completed.
Hosseinizad is also interested in translating German modern literature. Among his other works is the translation of ’Supporting Nothing’ by Hart Murt Lange, a collection of stories by four German modern writers.

MADRID, Nov. 6--Spanish language film Volver has received six nominations in the run up to next month’s European film awards.
According to Reuters, the Pedro Almovodar drama starring Penelope Cruz is favorite to claim the accolades of best film, best director and best actress from the European Film Academy, which has made its nominations following the Seville Film Festival.
German film The Lives of Others also received six nods, while Ken Loach’s The Wind that Shakes the Barley has been nominated five times, including in the best actor category for star Cilian Murphy.
Murphy’s performance in Breakfast on Pluto has also put him in contention in that category. Loach’s film walked away with the Palme d’Or in Cannes five months ago, while Cruz and her female co-stars shared the best actress gong at the French film festival for Volver.
New James Bond villain Mads Mikkelsen is also in the running for best actor for his role in After the Wedding, while The Road to Guantanamo by Michael Winterbottom and Mat Whitecross has received nominations for both best film and best director.
The winners will be presented with their awards in Warsaw on December 2nd.

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 6--Sacha Baron Cohen’s Kazakh alter-ego Borat made glorious returns at the box office, surprising Hollywood with a No. 1 debut, reports AFP.
Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, 20th Century Fox’s big-screen incarnation of Cohen’s Kazakh journalist from Da Ali G Show, took in $26.4 million during its opening weekend, according to studio estimates Sunday.
Box-office analysts had expected Disney’s The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause, with Tim Allen returning as St. Nicholas, to win the weekend. It was No. 2 with $20 million, followed by the Paramount-DreamWorks animated comedy Flushed Away in third place with $19.1 million.