The documentary “Habibullah” by Adnan Zandi from Iran has won an award at the 28th International Film Festival Zoom- Zblizenia in Poland.

The film won the Best Documentary Award among 29 documentaries competing in the festival last week, ILNA reported.

Made in 2023, the 24-minute movie depicts the life of a veteran folk singer from the Leylax region in Dehgolan City, Kurdestan Province. As he ages, he faces new challenges and doubts.

The titular character is an 80-year-old Kurdish folk singer and poet, Habibullah Zandi. For decades, he has been a beacon of joy in his village, performing at weddings and gatherings and entertaining people with his songs about love. Currently, though, his passion faces opposition when some radical figures demand he cease singing, accusing him of promoting immorality.

Things get worse when one of his performances is recorded and posted on TikTok, mostly by youths who mock his performances, bringing his son to also criticize his continuing performances. Tensions rise, but so does his defiance. The film mirrors its protagonist – it is quietly self-assured, joyful, and with a deep love for the beauty of this world.

Adnan Zandi, 39, holds a Master’s degree in cinema. He has directed several documentary films and won awards at numerous festivals. He is the founder and director of the Riga Student Film Festival.

The International Film Festival Zoom-Zblizenia is one of the largest and most important independent cinema festivals in Poland. It seeks to present the author’s cinema, ambitious, high artistic value, moving independent and original subject matter, as well as promotion of independent film art.

In addition to the international film contests, the festival includes non-competition screenings and open meetings with famous filmmakers. /T.T/

The Isfahan Museum of Contemporary Art, considered the home for visual arts in Iran, reopened during an impressive ceremony on Saturday in the presence of top dignitaries.

The majestic museum building, managed by the Cultural and Recreational Organization of Isfahan Municipality, dates back to the Safavid era (1501-1736).

The building underwent extensive renovation during the Qajar period (1794-1925). Masoud Mirza, the then-governor of Isfahan, used it as his residence and administrative office.

Due to his profound passion for hunting, Mirza stored his hunting trophies in this building, which led to its nickname, “Hall of Antlers,” according to museum officials.

To honor artists and their contributions, Isfahan Municipality started restoration work on the building a few years ago.

During the reopening ceremony on Saturday, Saeed Mohammadi-Panah, the director of the Isfahan Museum of Contemporary Art, announced that the museum, which serves as the city’s specialized center for visual arts, had reopened after four years of restoration and necessary renovations.

Visitors at the Isfahan Museum of Contemporary Art during its reopening ceremony on Saturday. (Photo b y IRIB News)
The museum will be open to artists, art lovers, and local and foreign tourists during the upcoming Persian New Year holidays, starting March 21.

A city in central Iran, Isfahan is known for its stunning Persian architecture and historic buildings dating back to the Safavid era, which are thronged by millions of local and foreign tourists every year.

The mayor of Isfahan inaugurated two exhibitions alongside the museum’s reopening ceremony, inviting visitors to explore “30 Years of Museum Posters” and “30 Years of Museum Images.”

Referring to the historical background of the building, Mohammadi-Panah told visitors that it dates back to the Safavid era and is one of Isfahan’s valuable historical structures.

Situated near Chehel Sotoun Palace, it saw various changes in function over the years. Ultimately, in 1994, it was officially named the Isfahan Museum of Contemporary Art.

Visitors inspecting art works at the Isfahan Museum of Contemporary Art during its reopening ceremony on Saturday. (Photo b y IRIB News)
According to Mohammadi-Panah, the museum has served as a dynamic hub for the arts in Isfahan for 30 years, serving as a home for national and international artists, visual arts students, and researchers.

Its proximity to Isfahan University of Art, which nurtures the next generation of artists, has further enhanced its significance.

He added that the museum features four large galleries with distinctive architecture. Over the past three decades, it has hosted works by renowned artists from Iran and abroad, including masterpieces by noted Iranian artist Master Farshchian and German artist Günther Uecker.

The director of the Specialized Office for Visual Arts emphasized that art is deeply interwoven with the city’s identity and added that the museum holds a rich collection of over 700 valuable visual artworks, which will soon be displayed in Gallery No. 4 for visitors. / Press tv/

UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili has emphasized the need to enhance cooperation with Iran to foster sustainable development in the tourism industry.

In a letter to Iran’s Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts, Reza Salehi-Amiri, Pololikashvili highlighted the country’s pivotal role in the global tourism system, according to a press release issued by the Ministry on Monday.

Pololikashvili lauded the organizational quality and high level of participation at the 18th Tehran International Tourism Exhibition held last month in the Iranian capital. He described the event as a distinguished platform that showcases innovative frameworks for international tourism interactions, effectively bridging public and private sector initiatives.

Moreover, Pololikashvili referred to a report by Ian Wilko, the director of affiliated members and public-private partnerships at UN Tourism, which further highlighted the strategic importance of Tehran’s tourism exhibition. He noted that the event has firmly established itself as one of the most significant international forums for exchanging experiences, facilitating policy dialogue, and uncovering new investment opportunities in the tourism sector.

Looking ahead, the secretary-general proposed two key initiatives for future cooperation between Iran and UN Tourism.

The first initiative involves planning and organizing the forthcoming Urban Tourism Conference in Tehran, which he believes will bolster Iran’s role in shaping global urban tourism strategies. The second calls for enhanced engagement between Iran and the network of UN Tourism’s affiliated members, aimed at strengthening scientific, technical, and investment ties within the Iranian tourism industry.

Pololikashvili concluded his letter by reaffirming UN Tourism’s commitment to continuing constructive dialogue with Iran. He emphasized the importance of mutual capacities for sustainable tourism development, deepening tourism diplomacy, and increasing international synergy in the sector.

The Islamic Republic expects to reap a bonanza from its numerous tourist spots such as bazaars, museums, mosques, bridges, bathhouses, madrasas, mausoleums, churches, towers, and mansions, of which 28 are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. /T.T/

Iranian film “In the Shadow of Cypress” has bagged the 2025 Oscar for Best Animated Short Film, beating other contenders.

The 20-minute short film won the award during the Oscar ceremony on Sunday evening.

The short film was made by Iranian directors Hossein Molayemi and Shirin Sohani and was a production of the Iranian Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults.

In the Shadow of Cypress uses geometric 2D animation to chronicle the relationship between a father and daughter as the former suffers from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder).

It delves into the kind of mental and physical challenges the captain and his daughter face while living at sea, isolated from the world.

This Academy Award win makes history as it is the first time that Iranian filmmakers have bagged a prestigious award in this category.

The two Iranian directors were not expected to attend the Oscars but they managed to obtain a last-minute visa and and only arrived in Los Angeles three hours before the ceremony.

Earlier, In the Shadow of Cypress earned major accolades at the LA Shorts International Film Festival, Lebu International Film Festival and Tribeca Film Festival.

It also left quite the impression by bagging multiple nominations at the Venice International Film Festival, Annie Awards, Anency International Animation Film Festival, Melbourne International Film Festival and Clermond Ferrand International Film Festival. /MNA/

Iranian-made Sina robots supplied to hospitals in Indonesia for surgery purposes have surprised medical professionals in the country, according to a report published in the Iranian media.

The surgeons working with Sina Surgical System in Indonesian hospitals are satisfied with the performance of the robots used in the system, Press TV reported.

The report said some 100 new Indonesian surgeons have applied to attend training courses on how to use Sina in robot-assisted telesurgery operations. That comes on top of 112 surgeons that have been attending the courses since the system was supplied to Indonesia two years ago.

Indonesia hopes that once approved, Sina can help expand the country’s Robotic Telesurgery Center to connect its western and eastern islands at a distance of 3,500 kilometers.

Designed and manufactured by an Iranian robotics company, Sina uses robots to mimic the movements of the hands of a surgeon during an operation.

The system applies a minimally invasive approach to surgical operations by cutting a 5-millimeter incision to the body area where the operation is needed. That significantly reduces the recovery time of the patients after their operation and allows for doing more precise stitches to close the wounds.

The robots copy every one centimeter in movement of the surgeon’s hands with a one-millimeter move on the body of the patient. That allows the surgeon to sew the wound back together in a larger dimension on the system console while robots are copying the stitch to the body at one-tenth of the size.

Sina is a product of some 20 years of research work at Tehran’s University of Medical Sciences. People behind the project say the device is a purely Iranian system that has been built using the expertise and technology developed by Iranian engineers and scientists.

The robot has won 10 patents in the United States and other countries, while researchers have studied the system in more than 70 papers in major international scientific journals.

Reports have indicated that agencies related to the Russian government have also expressed interest in the device. /MNA/

In an official correspondence, Isaka Abdulkadir Imam, Secretary-General of the Developing Eight (D8) Organization, extended his gratitude to Iran’s Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts, Seyyed Reza Salehi-Amiri, for the warm hospitality extended during the 18th Tehran International Tourism and Related Industries Exhibition.

In his letter, Abdulkadir Imam commended the success of the exhibition, noting it as a testament to the prominent role of the Islamic Republic of Iran in tourism diplomacy. He emphasized the importance of maintaining targeted and purposeful interactions and harnessing the potential for convergence within the regional tourism ecosystem.

Key strategic proposals outlined in the letter include the allocation of a dedicated exhibition hall for D8 member countries at the upcoming 19th International Tourism Exhibition in Tehran. Abdulkadir Imam described this initiative as a pivotal step toward strengthening economic diplomacy and fostering regional collaboration in the tourism industry.

Furthermore, the secretary-general proposed a joint meeting involving deputy ministers of culture and tourism from D8 member countries and private sector stakeholders to create a shared roadmap for joint investments in tourism, promoting sustainable development and maximizing the mutual capacities of the member nations.

He also reiterated the commitment of the D8 Secretariat to pursue and operationalize these strategic initiatives. He requested that the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts consider the D8 Secretariat as a key partner in the planning process for the 2026 exhibition, a move he believes will facilitate timely communication, enhance effective interactions, and ensure robust participation by member countries.

The letter underlines a mutual commitment to deepening strategic cooperation and developing innovative capacities in both regional and international tourism arenas.

Abdulkadir Imam attended the 18th Tehran International Tourism and Related Industries Exhibition which was held from February 11 to 14 in the Iranian capital. / T.T/

On the second day of their visit to Isfahan, a group of 100 tour operators from 25 countries explored various sections of the Isfahan Healthcare City, including its state-of-the-art dental facilities and advanced nuclear medicine department.

Following the tour, the experts met with Masoud Sarrami, a renowned entrepreneur from Isfahan and the founder of this massive healthcare complex. During the discussion, Sarrami highlighted the capabilities and strengths of the medical center, emphasizing that patients and their companions from across Iran and around the world can stay in the hotels within the complex. This allows them to not only receive high-quality medical care but also explore the cultural attractions of Isfahan.

Welcoming the visitors, Sarrami expressed his vision for the center, stating, “Welcome to a part of a paradise on Earth, because we believe that paradise is a place where there is no harm, and where no one interferes with others.”

He further explained, “We believe that humans create paradise in their minds, experiencing eternal comfort through it. Here, we have built a paradise whose values give us the strength and hope to work harder and serve people even more. We have established the best healthcare services here for the people of Isfahan, the people of Iran, and those who come here from every corner of the world.”

Sarrami also announced a special service for guests staying in the hotels within the healthcare city, stating that they will receive complimentary medical and health diagnostic tests as part of their stay.

The visit showcased Isfahan Healthcare City’s commitment to integrating top-tier medical services with hospitality, making it a premier destination for both medical tourism and cultural exploration. /T.T/

Iranian Vice President for Science, Technology, and Knowledge-Based Economy Hossein Afshin has said that manufacturing domestic aircraft in the country is on the way.

He announced the joint programs of the Vice Presidency for Science, Technology, and Knowledge-Based Economy.

Referring to building an 8-seater aircraft, he added, “We have started launching this project domestically in cooperation with expert engineers.”

The vice-presidency for science and technology throws its weight behind all efforts of the elites and scientists of the country, he underlined.

Afshin also announced the drafting of a joint memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the vice-presidency for science and technology, the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development, and the Ministry of Defense, adding that signing this agreement has been postponed and it will probably be finalized during the holy month of Ramadan.  /MNA/

Mourners from across the region gather in Beirut for the funeral of Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah’s long-serving leader, and his appointed successor, Sayyed Hashem Safieddine.

Beirut, IRNA – Hundreds of thousands of mourners from across the region have gathered in Beirut for the funeral of Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah’s long-serving leader, and his appointed successor, Sayyed Hashem Safieddine, who were both assassinated by the Israeli regime last year.

The mourners gathered at 9:00 a.m. local time (7:00 GMT) on Sunday at Beirut stadium (the Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium) and the nearby streets in southern Beirut. The event is being broadcast live on IRNA’s website.

Delegates from the Iranian government, including Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, as well as private citizens, are in attendance.

As part of the massive ceremony, the streets of Beirut have been adorned with images of the two martyrs as well as Iran’s late anti-terror commander, Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani, alongside banners proclaiming, “We remain true to the pledge.”

Villages across southern Lebanon are also preparing to take part in the burial ceremonies. Nasrallah will be laid to rest on Sunday in Burj al-Barajneh, a southern suburb of Beirut, while Safieddine will be buried in his hometown of Deir Qanoun al-Nahr on Monday.

Similar symbolic funeral ceremonies are being held in Tehran and other locations to honor the Lebanese resistance leaders. In the Iranian capital, a gathering will take place at Imam Khomeini Mosalla in the evening, with billboards around the city reading, “We remain true to the pledge,” inviting people to attend.

Nasrallah, who led Hezbollah for 32 years, was assassinated in an Israeli airstrike on September 27 last year in Dahieh, a southern suburb of Beirut. Safieddine, named Hezbollah’s new secretary-general in the wake of Nasrallah’s assassination, was killed in a similar Israeli act of aggression in Dahieh on October 3. /  IRNA/