Imam Khomeini Mausoleum in south Tehran

A movie director said that he plans to produce a documentary on the history of the mausoleum of late father of the Islamic Revolution, Imam Khomeini.
Hamid Mojtahedi noted that the documentary will follow the model of the television serial ’Iran’ and a documentary titled ’Damavand’ with the subject being filmed from both the ground and air to expose the grandeur of the monument and its various aspects, Fars reported.
He pointed out that the film will serve as a tribute to the great architect of the Islamic Revolution.
Referring to the research and filming activities conducted over the past one and a half years to prepare the film, Mojtahedi contended that the documentary was made in Tasvir-e Shahr Institute and the order for its production was placed by Tehran Municipality’s Cultural and Artistic Organization.
Some sections of the documentary deal with the development of Imam Khomeini shrine. “What is noteworthy is that the installation of the mausoleum’s huge dome and its developmental operations were conducted without even a delay of one day in the project,“ Mojtahedi pointed out.
He noted that concurrent with the activities of the construction team, the filming of some sections began in 2006. “Different stages such as construction of the dome, installation of pedestals and pillars were filmed. After the end of ceremonies to mark the demise anniversary of Imam Khomeini, the filming of construction and development operations of Imam Khomeini Shrine will also be carried out,“ Mojtahedi asserted.

A book titled ’Charter of National Unity and Islamic Solidarity’ which features relevant viewpoints from the holy Qur’an and those expressed by the infallible Imams (AS), sources of emulation and religious authorities, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and contemporary history of Iran is now available, reported Fars.
The book contains four chapters: namely ’Unity from the perspectives of the holy Qur’an and the infallible Imams (AS)’, ’Unity as viewed by religious authorities’, ’national unity’ and ’Islamic solidarity’.
In its preface, the book points out that the Norouz (Iranian New Year) messages of the leader to the people and officials since 1990 totally reflect the demands of the leader of the Islamic society in administering the Islamic system.
Designation of the years as ’Emulating the Behavior of Hazrat Ali (AS), the First Shiite Imam’, ’Social Discipline and Work Conscience’, ’Imam Khomeini’, ’Imam Ali (AS)’, ’Imam Hossein’s (AS) Dignity and Honor’, ’Campaign to Offer Public Services’, ’Accountability of Officials Vis-ˆ-vis the People’, ’National Solidarity and Public Participation’, ’Great Prophet (PBUH)’ and ’National Unity and Islamic Solidarity’ stem from the country’s strategic needs.
Following the evaluation of domestic and international situation, the leader decides the directions and mega-policies needed by the Islamic system.
What the leader determined as basic pivots for the current Iranian year includes two strategies needed for assuming a role at the national and international levels, it said.
National unity is essential within the country while Islamic solidarity is a necessity for Islamic Ummah.
The 190-page book with a cover price of 19,000 rials was published in 5,000 copies by Khadem Al-Reza Publishing House.

A view of Qale Dokhtar Castle in Fars province

Protective covering of the historical castle ’Qale Dokhtar’ (girl fortress), near Firouzabad, Fars province will be restored and renovated.
Announcing this, Amir Pirouz Daqouqi Isfahani, director of Firouzabad Cultural Heritage Station told ISNA that based on plans drawn up by foreign advisors, restoration works on the castle’s base and walls will be conducted with utmost care, adding that all scaffolds are to be examined and those worn out will be replaced.
“Operations have begun to reinforce the areas surrounding the fortress and four months to studies have to be conducted,“ he said.
Isfahani further said that holding workshops, conducting research in different fields, carrying out excavations and providing tourism facilities, are among the other activities underway at the site.
Qale Dokhtar is one of the ancient structures built by Artaxerxes I in 209 AD. It is located on a mountain slope near Firouzabad, 100 kilometers south of Shiraz.
The fortress, overlooking a valley in Firouzabad, was built in three levels. Guards were settled in the lower level, which was linked to the top level by a broad stairway. Halls and rooms were on the middle level, which was probably used to host the courtiers. And, finally the top level was reserved for the king.

Some 25 noted Iranian sculptors will create a statue of a four-meter high Achaemenid soldier and decorate it with 500 kilograms of chocolate to mark World Handicrafts Day (June 10).
According to Fars, the project will be undertaken on the sidelines of the exhibition-cum-festival of handicrafts and souvenirs which will be held in cooperation with a number of craftsmen, Qur’an University’s Fine Arts Campus and seven provincial handicrafts and traditional arts departments in Tehran University from June 10-17.
The statue will be unveiled in a ceremony at 5:00 p.m. on June 14.
During the eight-day event, craftsmen from Tehran, Isfahan, East and West Azarbaijan, Gilan, Mazandaran, Golestan and Charmahal-Bakhtiari, Markazi, Khuzestan and Kermanshah provinces will display their artworks in the fields of potteries, Moarraq, inlaid works, timeworks, glassworks, traditional clothing, leather works, wood products, traditional instruments, Gelim, embroidery, carpet-tableaux and decorative stones.
The exhibit will be open to the public in the university’s gallery everyday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Granada Film Festival opened its international section on Saturday with the screening of four Iranian films: ’Roads’ by Abbas Kiarostami, ’Cry of Ants’ by Mohsen Makhamlbaf, ’Half Moon’ by Bahman Qobadi, ’Workers Are Working’ by Moni Haqiqi.
According to ISNA, Jafar Panahi is a member of the panel of jury for the event which is underway in a competitive form in Granada, Spain.
A review of Chinese cinema industry in the 21st century and screening some films by Zhang Yulna, Zhang Van are among the programs of the festival.
Yusef Shahin, a renowned Egyptian filmmaker, will be honored at the event.
The event’s international competition section will feature the films ’Hot Summer’ from Philippine, ’Rate of Ice-cream’ from India, ’Java Opera’ from Australia and ’Number One Blade’ from France.
The main awards of the festival include cash prizes worth 5,000, 3,000 and 2,000 euros respectively.
Meanwhile, noted Iranian actress and stage director Niki Karimi has been selected to serve on the panel of jury at the Durban International Film Festival, which will open in South Africa on June 20.
Following this, she will also take part in film festivals in Munich (Germany) and La Rochelle (France).
According to ISNA, ’Half Moon’ and ’Workers Are Working’ are representing the Iranian film industry in Durban International Film Festival this year.

Iranian Architects, is the title of a book which was published for the first time by Iran’s Association of Architectural Luminaries to record the efforts of masters of Iranian architecture.
Out of 20,000 graduates of architects nationwide, 114 people along with their works have been introduced in the first volume of the book, which was unveiled on June 9 at Tehran’s Artists House.
Speaking to ILNA, Anousheh Mansouri, the executive director of the project to publish the book, said, “The book, planned in 2002, focuses on architects from the Qajar era up to the present and introduces different architectural styles.“
Mansouri further sought financial assistance from Tehran Municipality’s Cultural and Artistic Department as well as the provincial Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Department for the project.
Iran had less than 10 architecture faculties before the Cultural Revolution of 1980. Today, about 90 higher education centers are involved in the field.

Traditional music group ’Hamnavazan-e Erfan’ will perform in France late June.
According to ISNA, the group has been invited to perform traditional music on Iranian hand-woven carpet on the sidelines of a congress to be held in France.
The ensemble, which intends to introduce traditional Iranian music to other countries, will also perform in Egypt and Tunisia.
The group includes Hamid Vojdanpak, who plays traditional Iranian wind instrument ’Ney’, Seyyed Ali Jaberi and Sina Sarlak.