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Fajr Int’l Film Festival Wraps Up in Tehran

By
IFP Editorial Staff
-

In the closing ceremony attended by Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and Culture Minister Reza Salehi Amiri, the Iranian film in Turkish language ‘The Home’, written, directed and produced by Asghar Yousefinejad won the top prize of the 35th edition of Fajr International Film Festival.

Participating in the main International Competition section ‘Cinema Salvation’, ‘The Home’ won three awards including the top prize of the festival, Golden Simorgh (mythical Iranian bird) for the best film and Silver Simorgh for best script.

Here are Mehr’s photos of the closing ceremony:

 

According to the public relations office of the festival, awards of the section were presented by the jury members including German filmmaker Florian Gallenberger, American writer, producer and director Jessica Woodworth, Polish filmmaker Lech Majewski, Japanese actress Mieko Harada, Italian film producer and director Uberto Pasolini and Iranian actress Fatemah Motamed-Aria and director Rasoul Sadr-Ameli.

Announcing the name of the winner for the top prize of the event, Motamed-Aria said, “The Golden Simorgh for the best film goes to the movie which surprised us all.”

In February, ‘The Home’, Yousefinejad’s debut feature film, competed in the national section of the Fajr Festival and despite being praised by the critics and the public, it was completely ignored by the jurors.

The movie tells the story of Sayeh who has been not been in contact with her family since her marriage six years ago. But when her father dies, she comes back home only to find that his body has to be sent for an autopsy as per her father’s will. But she refuses to do so.

After receiving his award, Yousefinejad, 48, dedicated it to the late auteur Abbas Kiarostami, who passed away last June and was paid tribute in this year’s festival. “This award is for my master Kiarostami and Tabriz (his hometown, where the story also takes place). Long live Iran.”

The film also won the NETPAC prize designed to promote Asian cinema by spotlighting exceptional films and discovering new talents.

 

First Presence of NETPAC

This year marked the first presence of NETPAC in the FIFF. The jury included Australian festival director Anne Demy-Geroe, academic Rolando B. Tolentino from the Philippines and Iranian journalist and film critic Houshang Golmakani, Financial Tribune reported.

NETPAC is a worldwide organization of 29 countries. In the past 18 years it has programmed Asian sections of international film festivals, introduced filmmakers from Asia to the world, brought out a compendium of the existing film infrastructure in different Asian countries, organized seminars and conferences and instituted an award for the Best Asian film at various festivals.

The other winners of ‘Cinema Salvation’ who received Silver Simorgh awards were Colombian filmmaker Ivan D. Gaona, for best director prize for ‘Guilty Men’; Bulgarian movie ‘Glory’ collected two awards for the best actress, Margita Gosheva, and best actor, Stefan Denolyubov; and the Silver Simorgh for best short film went to ‘Online Shopping’ by Ghasideh Golmakani from Iran.

The Special Jury Prize for outstanding artistic contribution was presented to Zhu Jinjing, cinematographer and Wang Tou, art director, of ‘Mr. No Problem’, a joint production of China and France.

 

Asian Film Awards

In the Panorama of Films from Asian and Islamic Countries section, three awards were given. ‘Returnee’ directed by Sabit Kurmanbekov from Kazakhstan was titled the best Asian film. And the best Asian short film award went to ‘Not Yet’ by Arian Vazirdaftari from Iran.

Shahrbanoo Sadat won the best Asian director prize for her movie ‘Wolf and Sheep’, a co-production of Afghanistan, Denmark, France and Sweden.

Receiving her award, Sadat said, “This is indeed a valuable prize for me because although I was born in Tehran and had an ID, I could not go to school due to my Afghan nationality. I hope we are kind with each other.”

Sadat, 27, grew up in a remote shepherd community in Afghanistan. She studied documentary filmmaking in ‘Atelier Varan Kabul’, a French Documentary Workshop in 2009. Her first feature film ‘Wolf and Sheep’ tells the story of a village much like the one where she grew up. It won the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival’s Directors’ Fortnight in 2016.

 

Interfaith and Muhammad Al Ameen Awards

‘Knife in the Clear Water’ directed by Wang Xuebo from China received the Interfaith Award.

Muhammad Al-Ameen Award for reflection of prophetic ethics and morality was given to ‘Babaei’ by Mozaffar Hosseinkhani Hezaveh from Iran.

Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Seyyed Reza Salehi Amiri, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, Director of Iranian Cinema Organization Mohammad Mehdi Heydarian as well as a large number of Iranian cineastes and foreign guests attended the event.

Turkey Appears to Have Blocked Wikipedia

By
IFP Editorial Staff
-

The internet monitoring group Turkey Blocks said on its website that the shutdown of Wikipedia is “consistent with internet filters used to censor content”.

In the past Turkish authorities have denied blocking internet sites, blaming technical problems instead.

But monitoring groups say the shutdowns are deliberate and often come after attacks, controversial government moves or demonstrations against the government.

Turkish users attempting to go to the Wikipedia page are receiving a message that the site cannot be reached, with a “connection timed out” notice, Euronews reported.

“After technical analysis and legal consideration … an administrative measure has been taken for this website (Wikipedia.Org),” the BTK telecommunications watchdog said in a statement on its website.

It cited a law that allows it to block access to individual web pages or entire websites for the protection of public order, national security or the well-being of the public.

Iranian People Watch Live Presidential Debate

By
IFP Editorial Staff
-

Wherever they were on Friday afternoon, either in a taxi or in a supermarket, Iranian people tried to follow the first live debate between the final six presidential candidates a few weeks before the decisive May 19 elections.

Many of them watched the debate on TV or their mobile phones, and those who did not have access to a TV set, listened to what the six hopefuls said in their cars.

Here are Mizan and ISNA’s photos of people following the debate:

Iran’s Border Guards Targeted from Pakistan’s Territory: IRGC General

By
IFP Media Wire
-

On Wednesday, 10 Iranian border guards were killed and two others injured in an ambush attack near the town of Mirjaveh in the southeastern Iranian province of Sistan-and-Baluchestan. The so-called Jaish ul-Adl terrorist group claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement. The assailants escaped into Pakistani territory immediately after the attack.

Speaking on Saturday, Brigadier General Mohammad Pakpour, who is the commander of the Ground Forces of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), said there was a time when bandits would ambush Iranian security forces on the mountains of Sistan-and-Baluchestan.

That is no more the case, he said.

“Today, bandits have retreated into their den in… Pakistan and target our forces from there — like what happened to the border guards — and they (the bandits) are no more capable of [establishing] presence deep in our territory,” Brig. Gen. Pakpour said.

He pointed to the insecurity that amply exists in Iran’s neighborhood and said, “Our country is a safe island in this sea.”

“Today, Saudi Arabia, the [United Arab] Emirates and the godfather of them all, America, back counterrevolutionary groups to create instability for us,” he added.

Following the Wednesday attack, President Hassan Rouhani of Iran wrote to Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, calling for the perpetrators to be brought to justice. The Iranian Foreign Ministry also summoned Pakistan’s ambassador to Iran to convey the Islamic Republic’s strong protest to the Pakistani government.

In his Saturday remarks, the IRGC commander lauded the IRGC’s Saberin Special Forces Brigade for its contribution to the nation’s security.

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on April 29

By
IFP Editorial Staff
-

Many Iran newspapers covered the remarks made by the Leader of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei in a meeting with a group of Quran reciters and organizers of an international Quran contest.

The top story, however, was the first live presidential debate between the six candidates on social issues.

The focus of reformist and pro-government newspapers was on Es’haq Jahangiri’s attacks and counterattacks against Tehran Mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf. Conservative media also referred to Hassan Rouhani’s weak performance in the debate, and stressed that he has been the main loser.

The above issues, as well as many more, are highlighted in the following headlines and top stories:

 

Abrar:

1- Iran Leader: We’re Proud that Iranian People Are Interested in Quran

2- Pakistani Envoy Summoned to Iran’s Foreign Ministry

3- US State Department Calls on Iran to Release Two American Prisoners

4- Amano: IAEA to Continue Implementation of Safeguard in Iran

5- US Lawmaker: US Position Safer Thanks to JCPOA

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on April 29 - abrar

 

Abrar-e Eqtesadi:

1- Repeating Ahmadinejad’s Mistake: Promise to Triple Cash Handouts

2- Iran Ranked 120 in World Ranking of Ease of Doing Business

3- 22% Increase in Iran’s Imports in Past Year

4- Iran Third Supplier of Commodities Iraq Needs

5- Germans Take Samples of Iran’s Gas to Manufacture Cars

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on April 29 - abraregtesadi

 

Afkar:

1- Brilliant Work of the 96%: The 4% Group Can No More Deny

2- IRIB Host Acts in Favour of Rouhani’s Government

3- Rouhani Denied, Qalibaf Showed Document

4- Rouhani Was Biggest Loser of Debate: Conservative Naderan

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on April 29 - afkar

 

Aftab-e Yazd:

1- Es’haq Beats Qalibaf

  • Qalibaf Seems to Be Main Rival of Rouhani

2- Rouhani Intentionally Refused to Get Engaged in Challenging Arguments

3- Iran Once Again in Grief of Its Soldiers

4- Iran Isn’t US, Iranian President’s Office Isn’t White House

  • An Account of Attacks against Government

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on April 29 - aftab

 

Arman-e Emrooz:

1- Rouhani to Qalibaf: 3 of Your Claims Are Lie

2- Rouhani: If It Wasn’t for My Gov’t, Cyberspace Was Blocked Now

3- Reformist Figure: Even Conservatives Are Inclined towards Rouhani

  • Qalibaf Seeks to Receive Votes of Ahmadinejad Fans

4- Washington’s Request from Iranian Officials: Iran-US Talks in Trump Era!

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on April 29 - arman

 

Asr-e Iranian:

1- Qalibaf Single-Handedly Stands against Government’s Attacks

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on April 29 - asreiran

 

Asrar:

1- Parliament Speaker Urges Candidates to Avoid Impractical Slogans

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on April 29 - asrar

 

Ebtekar:

1- Jahangiri’s Prudence, Rouhani’s Hope in First Live Presidential Debate

2- VP: People’s Hope Should Not Be Destroyed in Elections

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on April 29 - ebtekar

 

Emtiaz:

1- Police Vows to Give Crushing Response to Terrorists Who Killed Iranian Border Guards

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on April 29 - emtiaz

 

Etemad:

1- Jahangiri’s Earthquake: Rouhani’s Partner in Duel with Qalibaf

2- Hashtag on Iran’s Presidential Debates Becomes Worldwide Trend

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on April 29 - etemad

 

Ettela’at:

1- Iran Leader: World of Unbelief Seeks to Destroy Islamic Identity

2- Parliament Speaker Describes Elections as Opportunity to Put off Enemy

3- President: Those behind Massacre of Iranian Border Guards Should Be Put on Trial

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on April 29 - etelaat

 

Haft-e Sobh:

1- Jahangiri Surprisingly Becomes Star of First Presidential Debate

2- Blood of Iranian Soldiers near Pakistani Border

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on April 29 - haftesobh

 

Hamshahri:

1- Rouhani: I Didn’t Say I’ll Create 1m Jobs

  • Rouhani Denied His Words, but Qalibaf Showed Him Documents

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on April 29 - hamshahri

 

Iran:

1- 3 Hours of Battle in Presidential Debate: Social Issues Discussed in First Live Encounter

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on April 29 - iran

 

Jame Jam:

1- Hot Competition in Presidential Debate

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on April 29 - jamejam

 

Javan:

1- Supporters, Critics of Status Quo Warm up Presidential Debate

2- Jahangiri: Feeling of Injustice Has Risen

3- Rouhani: Iran’s Western Areas Better than Eastern Parts, We Need a Balance

4- Qalibaf: You’re Government of the 4%

5- Raisi: You Shouldn’t Act Like Opposition Figure after 4 Years of Presidency

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on April 29 - javan

 

Jomhouri Eslami:

1- Jahangiri, Rouhani Shine in First Presidential Debate

2- Saudi Arabia Isolated in GCC Summit in Riyadh: Members Divided over Iran

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on April 29 - jomhori

 

Kayhan:

1- Government’s Weak Performance Costs It Dearly

2- IMF: Rouhani’s Gov’t Breaks Records in Imports! 4th Rank between 175 Countries!

3- Turkey, Israel Simultaneously Attack Syria: Erdogan from North, Bibi from West!

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on April 29 - keyhan

 

Quds:

1- Political Clash in Social Debate: Government Officials Once Again Deny Their Promises

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on April 29 - gods

 

Resalat:

1- Presidential Candidates Discuss Various Issues in First Debate

2- IRGC General: We Have Father of All Bombs in Response to US MOAB

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on April 29 - resalat

 

Setareh Sobh:

1- Duel between Qalibaf-Raisi and Rouhani-Jahangiri

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on April 29 - setaresobh

 

Shahrvand:

1- Shadow of That Man

  • Social Media Users Found Many Similarities between Remarks by This Year’s Candidates and Those by Candidates of Previous Elections

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on April 29 - shahrvand

 

Shargh:

1- Jahangiri’s Storm: Cultural Problems Cannot Be Resolved through Offensive Ways

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on April 29 - shargh

 

Vaghaye Ettefaghieh:

1- First Response to Attack: Rouhani, Jahangiri Counterattack Rouhani’s Criticisms

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on April 29 - vaghaye

 

Vatan-e Emrooz:

1- Lose-Lose Game for Rouhani

  • Plan to Introduce Jahangiri as Supportive Candidate Backfired

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on April 29 - vatan

US Seizure of Iran’s Assets is ‘Banditry’: Iranian FM

By
IFP Media Wire
-
Zarif

Addressing a conference on Iran-Europe trade and banking ties, held in Tehran on Saturday, Zarif said Washington’s decision to seize $2 billion in the Central Bank of Iran’s assets held in New York’s Citibank or its push to put a freeze on $1.6 billion in assets belonging to Iran are “undoubtedly an international banditry.”

In April 2016, the US Supreme Court upheld the Congress and then President Barack Obama’s actions to hold Iran financially responsible for the 1983 bombing that killed 241 Marines at their barracks in the Lebanese capital of Beirut. The ruling allowed the families of the Marines and victims of other attacks that courts have linked to Iran to seize some $2 billion in assets held in New York’s Citibank, belonging to the Central Bank of Iran (CBI), which had been blocked under US sanctions.

Also in 2011, victims of the September 11 attacks, launched by Saudi-backed al-Qaeda in 2001, persuaded a federal judge in New York, George B. Daniels, to find that Iran had aided the attacks by providing assistance to al-Qaeda. In 2012, he ordered Iran to pay the victims $2 billion in compensatory damages and $5 billion in punitive damages.

That judgment stagnated for years because there was no obvious way to collect it. But then it came to light that the Clearstream system in Luxembourg, which facilitates international exchanges of securities, was holding $1.6 billion in Central Bank of Iran’s assets that had been blocked under sanctions.

Last year, lawyers for the September 11 victims persuaded a judge in Luxembourg to place a new freeze on those assets while they sued over whether they could execute the default judgment against those funds.

Trump Says Saudi Arabia Not Treating US Fairly

By
IFP Editorial Staff
-

In an interview with Reuters, Trump confirmed his administration was in talks about possible visits to Saudi Arabia in the second half of May.

“Frankly, Saudi Arabia has not treated us fairly, because we are losing a tremendous amount of money in defending Saudi Arabia,” he said.

Trump’s criticism of Riyadh was a return to his 2016 election campaign rhetoric when he accused the kingdom of not pulling its weight in paying for the US security umbrella.

“Nobody’s going to mess with Saudi Arabia because we’re watching them,” Trump told a campaign rally in Wisconsin a year ago. “They’re not paying us a fair price. We’re losing our shirt.”

The United States is the main supplier for most Saudi military needs, from F-15 fighters to control and command systems worth tens of billions of dollars in recent years, while American contractors win major energy deals.

The world’s top oil exporter and its biggest consumer have enjoyed close economic ties for decades, with US firms building much of the infrastructure of the modern Saudi state after its oil boom in the 1970s.

Qalibaf Harshly Criticizes Rouhani’s Government

By
IFP Editorial Staff
-
Qalibaf

In his remarks during the first live presidential debate on Friday, Qalibaf said the Iranian society is now divided into two groups: a wealthy group that has huge amounts of money thanks to its special links to sources of power.

This group, according to Qalibaf, constitute only 4 percent of the society. The remaining 96% are those with economic problems.

Qalibaf strongly criticized Rouhani’s government for favouring the 4-percent wealthy group, and ignoring the 96% who have been deprived of equal social opportunities.

The conservative Mayor of Tehran said Rouhani’s administration has given large loans to the 4-percent group, while newly-married couples are faced with lots of problems for receiving a small loan.

He then referred to Rouhani administration as ‘the government of the 4%’, and hailed Ahmadinejad’s government for paying attention to the deprived and poor people.

“The most important thing the previous government did was that it supported the poor. It visited villages, while you [Rouhani] don’t go anywhere. You just go to a provincial capital for an hour, take part in a couple of meetings, and then return to Tehran,” he noted.

Qalibaf also rapped Rouhani government’s failure to renovate old buildings in the city while it has been obliged to do so for 10 percent of buildings each year.

And in his most controversial criticism, Qalibaf accused Rouhani of lying about his capability to create 4 million jobs only through tourism. Later in the debate, Rouhani dismissed the claim as a ‘sheer lie’ and said he has never promised to create 4 million jobs.

Qalibaf then showed a printed account of Rouhani’s remarks in 2013, and claimed that Rouhani had vowed to create 4 million jobs. However, Rouhani once again responded to the claim by explaining that he had said if 10 million tourists visit Iran, it is possible to create 4 million jobs.

Iran Condemns Israeli Raids on Syria as Violation of Int’l Law

By
IFP Editorial Staff
-
bahram

Referring to an attack by Israel on a major airport in Syria, Qassemi said, “There is no doubt that such raids are aimed at weakening the legitimate government of Syria.”

The Iranian spokesman said the attacks are clear violations of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of an independent UN member state, and run counter to global peace and security.

Qassemi said such aggressive operations contribute to the reinforcement of Takfiri-Zionist terrorists who are getting closer to decline and annihilation on a daily basis, according to the Foreign Ministry’s website.

He also called on the international community, particularly the United Nations, not to remain silent and to spare no effort to prevent it from happening again.

Earlier on Thursday, Iranian Defence Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan had also condemned the attack, saying the aggression was in line with Israel’s policy to help the terrorist groups fighting the Syrian government.

“In my opinion, those operations help terrorists,” Dehqan said while on a visit to Moscow, adding that the strike was meant to undermine the gains made by the Syrian government against terrorist groups, Press TV reported.

“When it becomes worse for the terrorists, the strikes follow, bringing them a message saying: ‘We are defending and protecting you, so don’t worry and if it’s necessary we’ll intervene,” the Iranian defense minister stated.

Such strikes “are only aimed at ensuring the survival of terrorists,” he added.

Jahangiri: I Represent Iranian Reformists in Presidential Election

By
IFP Editorial Staff
-
jahangiri-election-tv

During the Friday’s presidential debate, Jahangiri’s candidacy was questioned by Qalibaf, who thinks it is not appropriate that the former has run for president while he’ll withdraw in favour of Rouhani at the end. He later called Jahangiri’s candidacy as a waste of time for the people following the debate.

Jahangiri strongly lashed out at Qalibaf’s remarks and said, “You have deprived reformists from all of their rights. I am here to represent reformists to say what you have done with this original movement.”

He said he has all the right to run for Iran’s presidency as he is more experienced that Qalibaf, and after years of working as a governor, minister, and first vice-president, he is ready to put himself to people’s vote.

“I’m here to say what Ahmadinejad’s government did to human resources, to Mr Hashemi Rafsanjani or Nateq Noori,” he added.

In a reference to Qalibaf’s management after the Plasco building collapse, Jahangiri said the government does not hesitate to apologize to the Iranian nation whenever needed.

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