First international seminar on contemporary Persian literature to commemorate Qeisar Aminpour, noted Iranian poet, was held at Ferdowsi Hall of Tehran University’s Literature and Humanities Faculty on November 13-14.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony, Head of the Center for Developing Persian Language and Literature Abbas Ali Vafaei said that contemporary literature is experiencing one of its most important periods but it has not been dealt with appropriately both in Iran and abroad, according to a press release by Islamic Culture and Communications Organization faxed to Iran Daily.
Stating that 25 researchers on Persian language from Russia, India, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan and Egypt are participating at the seminar, he hoped that the event would pave the way for further studies on contemporary Persian literature, notably those pertaining to the 1979 Islamic Revolution and Sacred Defense (Iraq-imposed war of 1980-1988).
He further said that a review of literature before and after the 1979 Islamic Revolution and acquaintance with works undertaken by foreign researchers on contemporary Persian literature are among the objectives of the event.
Meanwhile, dean of the faculty, Ali Sheikh-Ol Eslami said that the literature of any historical period usually finds its way in universities after a 50 years lapse whereas Islamic Revolution literature was welcomed in universities after a short period.
Extolling the spiritual and academic stature of Aminpour, he said that the late Aminpour enjoyed special spiritual and ethical characteristics.
A total of 150 articles from abroad and 130 Iranian papers have been submitted to the secretariat of the seminar, of which 50 will be presented at the event.
The seminar was sponsored by the Center for Developing Persian Language and Literature and Islamic Culture and Communications Organization.
Aminpour died at the age of 48 on Tuesday in Tehran’s Dei Hospital following a heart failure. He received his PhD in Persian language and literature from Tehran University. He was buried in his birthplace on Gotvand in north Khuzestan province.

Baran Kowsari in 'Mainline'

Iranian films ’Mainline’ directed by Rakhshan Bani-Etemad and Mohsen Abdolvahhab and ’Night Bus’ by Kioumars Pourahmad won awards for the best director and special prize of panel of jury respectively at the Asia-Pacific Cinematic Award in Australia.
According to ISNA, films from Iran, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Lebanon and Turkey were the winners at the event.
Houman Behmanesh, Iranian cameraman, grabbed the filming award for shooting the film ’Those Three’.
Eight Iranian films were nominated for the first round of the Asia- Pacific Cinematic Award which ended on November 13.
The event was initiated by the Australian Union of Cinema Producers in cooperation with United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and FIAPF (International Federation of Film Producers Association.

Some 90 billion rials were spent on buying books and equipping libraries across the nation in the first half of the Iranian year which began on March 21.
Announcing this, deputy minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance for cultural affairs, Mohsen Parviz told CHN at a press conference during the 15th Islamic Republic Book Week that the ministry’s overall policy is to remove obstacles to book reading.
“One of the problems is the availability of books while the other is fostering the habit of reading, which should be developed from childhood,“ he said.
The ministry believes that there should be no restriction on purchasing books for libraries, he said, adding last year it bought six times more books than the number purchased the year earlier.
This year too, the Book Purchasing Committee has earmarked 90 billion rials for buying books, he said. Commenting on the ministry’s plans to equip public libraries, Parviz said that it will reject books whose contents are repetitive or those which do not appeal to the readership.
Describing promotion of book reading in schools as one of the most important policies of the ministry, Parviz said, “We have signed an agreement with the Education Ministry authorizing it to set up libraries with books donated by Culture Ministry.“
Improving the distribution system and reducing book prices is on the Culture Ministry’s program called ’Books Available’, he said, noting that the objective will be pursued by holding book fairs in the provinces.

Abbas Kiarostami

Noted Iranian film director Abbas Kiarostami is collaborating with Aref Ensemble on stage designing for their upcoming concert, which is slated for November 27-30 in Tehran’s Grand State Hall.
Announcing this, renowned Iranian musician Parviz Meshkatian, who is the conductor and composer for the group, told ISNA that Kiarostami has also designed the posters, brochures and tickets for the concert.
Commenting on the pieces, he said, “The concert will blend new compositions with previous works which have never been presented in public.“
The band includes Aein Meshkatian on ’Daf’ (a tambourine-like instrument), Navid Dehqan on ’Kamancheh’, a traditional Iranian string musical instrument, and Hassan Nahid on the reed instrument.
Meshkatian, who plays Santour (Dulcimer) in the band, also said that talks are underway to hold concerts in Shiraz and Isfahan.

Italy’s Heritage and Culture Ministry has returned smuggled Iranian antiques seized from smugglers by Italian police to the country of origin in a ceremony on Tuesday.
According to ISNA, the event was attended by the Italian Heritage and Culture Minister Francesco Rutelli and Iranian Ambassador to Italy Abolfazl Zohrehvand.
The items include a total of 41 handmade ceramics and potteries as well as 17 ancient coins whose antiquity, Italian experts believe, range from the eighth to 14th centuries (Ilkhanate to Seljukid eras).
The antiques were confiscated by the commanding unit for safeguarding cultural heritage of Monza’s Military Police from an Italian and a Pakistani national who were trying to sell them.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Italian minister said that his country considers itself morally obliged to return the smuggled objects to their countries of origin.
He hoped that by doing so, Italy would serve a model for countries that keep Italian relics which were illegally taken out.
Iran’s ambassador, for his part, thanked Italy and said that country’s cooperation with Iran, especially in the field of cultural interaction has historical roots.
“In today’s world, we should recognize diversity and live with them.“
At the end of the ceremony, the objects were handed over to the Iranian Embassy.

Irano-Kazakh Children Friendship Week opened on November 12 in Almaty, Kazakhstan and will continue until November 18.
A press release by Public Relations Department of the Institute for Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults (IIDCYA) faxed to Iran Daily said that the institute has drawn up programs to introduce Iranian culture and civilization to the Kazakh children during the week.
Screening a number of films and animations, holding exhibits of paintings by Iranian children focusing on peace and friendship as well as the Iranian traditions and costumes, presenting books and other IIDCYA products and story telling are among the programs of the week.
Workshops on painting, handworks including origami are also held so as to make Kazakh children familiar with the achievements of the institute.
Mohammad Hossein Salavatian, Iranian illustrator of children’s books, is in Almaty for the exhibit of his works.
He will also introduce works by Molana Jalaleddin Rumi, well-known Iranian poet and mystic, during the event.
Irano-Kazakh Children Friendship Week is sponsored by the institute, Islamic Culture and Communications Organization and Kazakhstan’s Children Center.

Iranian documentary ’A Cozy Place for Fish’, received the second award at the Sixth Munich International Film Festival which concluded on November 11.
Directed by Nasser Zamiri and produced by Iran’s Center for Development of Documentary and Experimental Cinema, the film was awarded a cash prize of 2,500 euros, said a press release faxed to Iran Daily by the center’s Public Relations Office.
A statement released by the festival’s jury reads, ’A Cozy Place for Fish’ depicts cultural and religious beliefs in an Islamic society as portrayed by two of its main characters by reacting differently to their physical disabilities.
The festival’s first prize of 5,000 euros went to a Thai film ’Always’.

Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) has invited Bahram Reihani, director of longest pantomime in the world, to perform programs on TV.
According to ISNA, he will perform live pantomime for ten minutes each day in the program ’Simay-e Khanevadeh’.
Describing his program as a different experience, Reihani said, “That’s a difficult task because I am obliged to prepare the program just one day ahead of performance.“
He noted, “Of course, I will try to incorporate innovations in my undertakings,“ adding that he will perform programs in ordinary outfit to show the audience that pantomime actor is somebody like them who conveys his feelings through his/her body and facial movements.
Appreciating IRIB for paying attention to pantomime, he added that pantomime is the mother of all performing arts and familiarity of the common audience with this branch of art will improve their knowledge about theater.
Reihani, who had earlier announced performance of a 75-day pantomime for children nationwide, also said that his troupe will soon undertake visits“ across the country.