TEHRAN, Feb. 25--Fifth Tehran International Animation Festival opens on Sunday with the screening of latest animation films from Iran and 61 other countries, Mehr reported.
The animations will be screened in five cinema theaters in the capital. This year’s festival includes different sections such as Iran and International, Perspective, Special Plays, Workshops and Specialized meetings.
Some 104 films in Iran’s competition section and 172 films in international section are participating in the event.
The festival’s jury is nearly half way through assessing the works while internationally recognized jury members began reviewing the entries on Saturday.
Main Hall, Ghadir Hall and Asseman Hall of the Center for Cultural and Artistic Creations, as well as Kanoon Cinema and Cinema Theater of Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting’s College will screen the animations at the festival.
On the first day of festival on Sunday, a total of 250 films will be shown.

People visiting artworks at Niavaran Cltural Center.

TEHRAN, Feb. 25--Some 80 artistic works including painting, calligraphy and sculpture were sold on the first day of an art exposition organized by artists, private collectors and representatives of some governmental organizations.
Leila Golestan, spokesman of ’Haft Negah’ Group, the organizer of the event, told IRIBNews that the exhibition aims to promote visual arts among Iranian artists.
She said that paintings, calligraphy tableaux and sculptures worth about 300 million rials were sold on the first day.
According to Golestan, 135 artists have displayed their artworks in the exhibition which began in Niavaran Cultural Center on Friday and ended on Sunday.
Haft Negah, or ’7-Views’ Group held this exhibition in cooperation with the Eqtesad-e Novin Bank and Tehran Municipality.
Golestan said her group has decided to hold such exhibitions in the provinces as well as overseas while planning to hold question-answer sessions on the sidelines of these expositions. “Holding such exhibitions will help increase the prices of artistic works in domestic and foreign markets, resulting in further welfare for artists,“ she concluded.

Azadi Tower in Tehran

TEHRAN, Feb. 25--Expert studies show that neither rain nor the watering of the lawn surrounding Tehran’s landmark Azadi Tower was the cause of the dampness in the tower’s foundation.
Experts have said that the reason for the seepage of water is the installation of flagstaffs at Azadi Tower which is a symbol of Tehran city and is currently in a dilapidated condition, reported CHN.
Pledges by officials to make the foundation of Azadi Tower damp-proof have been delayed in most cases. The issues of air pollution and plying of vehicles were cited as other problems for Azadi Tower.
Head of Tehran Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Department told CHN that in a joint meeting, experts from his organization and officials of Roudaki Foundation analyzed the findings of expert studies and they concluded that the installation of flag stands in the vicinity of Azadi Tower has caused water to seep to the foundation of Azadi Tower.
“We are not concerned about moisture in the structure since experts of Tehran Municipality’s District 9 will soon take care of this problem,“ he added.
Renovation of Azadi Tower will be completed by March 2008.

TEHRAN, Feb. 25--Culture and Islamic Guidance Ministry has announced that the international section of the 20th International Tehran Book Fair will be held in Tehran’s permanent fairgrounds, according to the managing director of the Institute of Book Distributors and International Publishers.
Alireza Rabbani told Mehr that the institute has however not received any written invitation from the ministry to participate inn the event.
“The norm is that information about the book fair is released in the days approaching the Iranian new year Norouz holidays (begins March 21) or even after the vacations,“ he added.
Rabbani pointed out that the majority of international publishers register in the book fair through their local representatives and foreign publishers are not directly involved in the paperwork for participating in the fair.
Rabbani, also director of Ghazal Publishers said that the major problem in Iran is the lack of experience in holding book fairs which has made foreign publishers confused about the venue of the event.
“Customarily international book fairs distribute their regulations pamphlets one year before the book fair is held and they even announce the place of stands six months in advance,“ he added.
He noted that it is still unclear whether the book fair will be held in two different locations or one place.

TEHRAN, Feb. 25--Head of the Iranian archeologists group of the joint Irano-French excavation team operating in Site 34 of Bolaghi Gorge has announced that the new round of archeological excavations in the area has already begun.
Mohammad Taqi Ataei told ISNA that the joint team of archeologists has begun third phase of excavations in Site 34 of Bolaghi Gorge where an Achaemenid mansion is located.
“In the second phase of the excavations, half of a mansion belonging to Achaemenid kings was identified and efforts are underway to trace the remaining section of the edifice,“ he added.
He pointed out that Site 34 of Bolaghi Gorge was destroyed in 2002 by heavy machinery and to gain access to the site, the soil dumped in the area has to be removed first.
Noting that compelling evidence pertaining presence of a royal mansion were found, he noted that the benefit of the current round of excavations is that after the findings in the second phase from the destroyed section of the hill, a higher wall or the pedestal of the column will be found.
Archeologists are working round the clock to conduct a thorough survey of the area which will be inundated once the under-construction Sivand Dam is flooded.

TEHRAN, Feb. 25--A statue known as ’Dragon Pride’ by well-known Iranian sculptor Jamshid Moradian will be displayed in 10 Chinese cities.
Moradian told ISNA that the statue that was selected by the 2007 Olympic Committee will also take part in China’s festival.
The sculptor, who sent prototype of his statue to Beijing, explained that a model of his statue and other sculptures will be shown to the public across China to seek their views about them.
“This festival that is held in a manner similar to the Olympic Games, divides 29 selected works in three categories for receiving gold, silver and bronze medals,“ he added.
The artist noted that ’Dragon Pride’ is like the pride of Chinese dragons that is portrayed as a loop circling around the earth.
“Head of Dragon is leaning downwards from the earth and five circles are around its head,“ he added.
Referring to Chinese festival as an important event, Moradian noted that he will cancel his other programs to get prepared for this program. He pointed out that the festival will be held before the 2008 Olympic Games and selected statues will be installed at the site of the games.

TEHRAN, Feb. 25--Teachings of the holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) should be presented to those interested according to his/her level of understanding, observed an official.
Ali Dejkam, who is in charge of the great Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) Exhibition, told ISNA that introducing the teachings of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) to the society is an art which should be presented prudently.
“Senior citizens who undertake the responsibility of preaching religion are our spiritual symbols and should be the embodiment of the holy prophet’s instructions,“ he said.
Referring to the arrangements for the great Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) Exhibition, Dejkam said that this exhibition will be held in March by Leader’s Representative Office in Universities under the supervision of the High Council of Cultural Revolution.
Leader of the Islamic Revolution Seyyed Ali Khamenei designated the current Iranian year to March 20 after Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). A taskforce comprising the culture minister and his deputy for press affairs was set up to devise plans to promote the teachings of the holy prophet of Islam in the society.
Several programs including exhibitions and conferences as well as publication of books have so far been undertaken to commemorate the year.
“This exhibition will display the activities of state and non-governmental organizations to commemorate this year and to promote the teachings of the holy prophet,“ Dejkam concluded.

PARIS, Feb. 25--An adaptation of D.H. Lawrence’s ’Lady Chatterley’s Lover’ was named France’s best film of 2006 and landed four other honors at the Cesar awards Saturday, the French equivalent of the Oscars, said AP.
’Lady Chatterley’, directed by Pascale Ferran, traces the story of the wife of a paralyzed wealthy landowner who finds her passions awakened by a gamekeeper.
Marina Hands, as the lady in question, won best actress and the film also won awards for best adaptation, best costumes and best cinematography.
’Indigenes’ which was released in the United States as ’Days of Glory’ scored only one Cesar, best original screenplay, despite nine nominations. The film, about soldiers from French colonies in Africa who helped liberate France from the Nazis in World War II, is nominated for an Oscar for best foreign film. ’Little Miss Sunshine’, the tale of a family’s road trip to a children’s beauty pageant, landed the award for best foreign film. It’s also nominated for a best-picture Oscar.
The Cesar for best actor went to Francois Cluzet for “Ne le dis a personne,“ or ’Don’t Tell Anyone’, a suspense film centered on a man searching for an ex-lover long believed dead whom he rediscovers on the Internet. Guillaume Canet won the best director award for the film.
’In the Skin of Jacques Chirac’, a look at the French president and his four-decade political life, was named best documentary film. Chirac, 74, is likely to wrap up his 12-year presidential career after elections in May.