Iranwire – Iranian director and screenwriter Navid Mihandoost‘s repeated pleas for conditional release have been met with yet another denial, despite having served more than a third of his three-year prison sentence. In an interview with the Emtedad news website, Masoud Keramati, Mihandoost’s close friend and fellow filmmaker, expressed disappointment over the decision. He said, “Mihandoost has repeatedly requested to be …
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Iranian Actress Faces Unofficial Ban for Supporting 2022 Protests
Iranwire – The Islamic Republic’s authorities have unofficially banned an actress from working in the country after she supported the 2022 protests. Hanieh Tavassoli, a renowned Iranian film actress who publicly supported the Woman, Life, Freedom protests, is facing a “prohibition from acting,” according to her lawyer, Maryam Kian Ersi. Ersi said that Tavassoli has been banned without an official …
Read More »Fourteen stolen Iranian artworks reportedly sold in Dubai, 16 still missing
iranintl – An Iranian daily has revealed that 14 paintings stolen from Tehran’s Imam Ali Religious Arts Museum have been sold in Dubai, with no information on the whereabouts of 16 other missing works. The museum, overseen by Tehran’s municipality, is now embroiled in a scandal that raises questions about corruption and negligence at the highest levels. Naser Amani, a …
Read More »Iranian actress faces legal action for dancing in web series
iranintl – Iranian judicial authorities have taken legal action against actress Sahar Dolatshahi for allegedly “dancing” in a scene from a drama series, Dariush, as the government continues its crackdown on personal freedoms. The judiciary labeled her actions “contrary to Islamic principles,” sparking outrage among Iranians who see the move as yet another sign of the government’s control over cultural …
Read More »Germany Nominates Exiled Iranian Director’s Film for Oscar
Iranwire – Germany has chosen the film, The Seed of the Sacred Fig, directed by Iranian dissident filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof, as its entry for the 2025 Academy Awards in the Best International Feature category. It marks the first time an Iranian film has been submitted by Germany for Oscar consideration. Rasoulof qualified for the selection because the film is an Iranian-French-German …
Read More »A Filmmaker’s Fight Against Pressure and Imprisonment
Iranwire – It has been a year since outspoken artist and filmmaker Navid Mihandoost began serving his three-year sentence in Tehran’s Evin Prison. Neda Mihandoost, Navid’s sister, said that after his release on bail until he was taken to Evin Prison, her brother endured relentless pressure from the Ministry of Intelligence. The authorities persistently attempted to force him into cooperating …
Read More »Noted Iranian Music Promoter Killed in Los Angeles
Iranwire – Robert Dehnushi, a prominent Iranian concert organizer and former manager for renowned singer Googoosh, was fatally shot in Los Angeles, United States, on Thursday. According to reports, the Los Angeles Police Department has launched an investigation into the murder. One suspect has been arrested in connection with the shooting, though details about their identity have not been released. …
Read More »Iranian Grammy Award-Winning Singer Ordered To Start Prison Sentence
RFL/RE – An Iranian court has ordered Grammy Award winner Shervin Hajipour to begin his prison sentence for making the viral song Baraye, according to a July 30 Instagram post. The song became the anthem of the Women, Life, Freedom protests in Iran following the death of Mahsa Amini while in police custody. Hajipour said on Instagram that his almost …
Read More »Iran filmmakers defy state censorship despite repression
iranintl – An increasing number of Iranian filmmakers are defying the country’s strict ideological censorship by making movies without seeking the Culture Ministry’s permission, for screening abroad. Many filmmakers are bypassing regulations requiring them to obtain approval at various stages of production, from screenplay inception to final screening and entry into international film festivals. These new independent films challenge compulsory …
Read More »US-based Institute hosted unpublicized event with pro-Tehran theorists
iranintl – The Utah-based Baskerville Institute, has sparked controversy by hosting a secretive conference in Tbilisi, Georgia, attended by Iranian supporters of sanctioned terrorist Qasem Soleimani and Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. This association with proponents of the Islamic Republic has drawn sharp criticism from Iranian-American human rights activists, who argue it betrays Baskerville’s legacy of championing democratic ideals. The Institute …
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