Iranian Cinema Week Opens In Moscow

Moscow, Oct 2, IRNA – The Iranian Cinema Week was inaugurated in the presence of visiting Culture and Islamic Guidance Minister Seyyed Mohammad Hosseini here in Moscow, Monday evening. The Iranian Cinema Week began on Monday night by screening the full length feature, Prophet Solomon’s Kingdom, directed by Shahriar Bohrani. Keeping in mind the popularity of the Iranian films in Russia and the numerous demands for the screening of the top Iranian movies in this country, and thanks to the efforts made by Russian Culture Ministry and the Islamic Republic of Iran Cultural Attaché in Moscow, the Iranian Cinema Week is held here in the framework of the Iran Culture Week. Hosseini said at the opening ceremony of the Iranian Cinema Week, “This year the Russian Federation is the host of the Iranian culture and next year the Russian Culture Week would be held in Iran.” Hosseini said, “During the course of the Iranian Cinema week, The Days of Life, directed by Parviz Sheikh-Ta’ie would be screened here which is based o a story about the selfless struggles and altruistic endeavors of a group of the Iranian combatants of Islam during the course of the Sacred Defense” (against the Iraqi invading forces of the ousted Iraqi dictator, Saddam Hussain). He added, “Although Islam is the religion of blessings and the followers of this religion are by no means at war with the believers in other faiths, but when the enemy attacks everyone must defend their dignities.” Iran’s Ambassador to Russia Reza Sajjadi, too, said at the ceremony, “Probably in this hall no one is as happy as I am tonight due to holding the Iranian Cinema Week in Russia.” He added, “I have seven thousand weblog friends in Russia and I know about their feelings about the Iranian people and the culture of my country.” The Iranian diplomat said, “I hope we would manage to cover the long years of being away from each other resorting to the language of culture and to provide for greater proximity between the two nations.” He ended his remarks greatly appreciating the Russian Culture Ministry and Iran's Cultural Attaché in Moscow for cosponsoring both the Culture Week and the Iranian Cinema Week in Russia. A Russian Culture Ministry official, too, considered Iran a great country with a very rich culture that has contributed generously to the global culture and civilization and to its prosperity and blossoming. She said, “During the course of the past years we have been witnesses to the glory of the Iranian cinema at the global level and we are more than glad to be reflecting a part of the Iranian cinematography activities here in Moscow to the enthusiasts of the rich Iranian culture.” The Iranian Cinema Week is held at Moscow’s Khodozhstony Cinema, which is one of the historical and luxurious cinema halls of the Russian Federation. During this week five films, namely, The Alzheimer by Ahmad-Reza Mo’tamedi, The Blue Silk Road by Mohammad-Reza Bozorgnia, Here without Me by Bahram Tavakkoli, Days of Life by Parviz Sheikh-Ta’ie, and Prophet Solomon’s Kingdom by Shahriar Bohrani, all dubbed into Russian, would be screened. The Islamic Republic of Iran Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Seyyed Mohammad Hosseini arrived in Moscow Monday morning for a four day visit and inaugurating the Iran Culture Week here. Hosseini is scheduled to meet his Russian counterpart Vladimir Medinsky, along with whom he would participate at the opening ceremony of the Iranian Culture Week. Meeting the Iranians living in Syria, holding negotiations with the Russian officials and vesting the historical and monuments and cultural centers are in the schedule of the Iranian minister’s visit. The Iran Culture Week which is being held in the Russian capital city, Moscow, and Saint Petersburg from September 28th to October 8th, hosted by the Russian government features the presence and artistic presentations of over 50 Iranian artists. /end