Persianesque: Iranian Magazine

Sorvad: Mojgan Shajarian & Pejman hadadi Exclusive Interview

Persianesque Staff — Tue, 26 Apr 2022 17:40:09 +0000

Singer, Setar player, and artist, Mojgan Shajarian and Master percussionst, Pejman Hadadi are going on tour with their new ensemble: Sorvad.

Along with members Hamidreza Maleki (Santour), Sirvan Manhoobi (Oud), Behfar Bahadoran (Tar), and Farzin Dehghan (Kamancheh), the group will embark on a multi-city tour which will make seven stops across the US.

Amir Nojan: Iranian Setar Virtuoso

Sanaz Khalaj-Santos — Wed, 13 Apr 2022 18:10:28 +0000

Born in Shiraz, Iran, Amir Nojan is a Classical Persian music artist. Known for his comprehensive knowledge of “Radif” (Persian Classical Repertoire), Nojan has studied with some of the most influential modern masters of traditional Persian music including Mohammad Reza Lotfi, Dariush Tala’i and Jalal Zolfonoun.

Iranian Actress: Golshifteh Farahani Stars in New Apple TV+ Sci-Fi Series, INVASION

Persianesque Staff — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 23:10:02 +0000

From Academy Award-nominated and two-time Emmy Award-nominated producer Simon Kinberg (“X-Men” films, “Deadpool” films, “The Martian”) and David Weil (“Hunters”), Invasion is a sweeping, character-driven science fiction drama series that follows an alien invasion through different perspectives around the world.

Immersive Art Exhibit: Iranian Artist Amirhossein Mahravani at Bright Festival

Persianesque Staff — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 14:34:50 +0000

Bright Festival is an Italy-based cultural event fostering and promoting digital creativity through education and entertainment activities in collaboration with the industry leading companies, universities, and artists from all over the world.

Farhang Foundation & New West Symphony Present: Global Sounds, Local Cultures – Tour of Iran

Persianesque Staff — Fri, 09 Apr 2021 20:31:27 +0000

Farhang Foundation is thrilled to announce its partnership with the prestigious New West Symphony of Southern California for their upcoming “Tour of Iran” concert.

Three Grammy award-winning artists will share their talents and take the stage with other internationally-renowned musicians as part of the New West Symphony’s A Tour of Iran concert being held virtually April 11.

Documentary Film: Seaspiracy by Ali Tabrizi

Persianesque Staff — Mon, 29 Mar 2021 15:10:09 +0000

Iranian-British Filmmaker Ali Tabrizi initially set out to celebrate his beloved ocean, but instead found himself investigating the harm that humans inflict upon the vulnerable seas. From plastics and fishing gear polluting the waters, to the irreparable damage of bottom trawling and by-catch, to illegal fishing and devastating hunting practices, humanity is wreaking havoc on marine life and, by extension, the entire planet.

Photo Essay: Iranian Embassy in Washington DC

Eric Parnes — Tue, 09 Mar 2021 15:17:17 +0000

Silent and inaccessible, the Embassy of Iran in Washington, D.C. has been closed since the fall of the Shah in 1979. In 2013 I was afforded an unprecedented and unique opportunity: The ability to capture the stillness of this defunct institution and a rare glimpse into a world forgotten by history.

Persian New Year 2021: Norooz 1400

Sheeva Azma — Mon, 01 Mar 2021 21:40:48 +0000

Norooz (Persian: New day), the Persian New Year, is celebrated on the vernal equinox, down to the second, which is calculated by astronomic forecasting based on Iran Standard Time (GMT+03:30).

Pandemic Warrior: Maz Jobrani on Peacock App

Persianesque Staff — Mon, 22 Feb 2021 21:52:26 +0000

NBC’s new (and free!) streaming platform, Peacock is running Iranian-American comedian, Maz Jobrani’s special: “Pandemic Warrior.”

“It’s great! Peacock has over 30M subscribers. So hopefully some new folks will be discovering me.

Iranian Environmentalist: Dr. Hormoz Asadi

Lobat Asadi — Thu, 18 Feb 2021 19:43:33 +0000

Hormoz is a Persian name. Derived from the word Ormozd (330 B.C), it refers to Ahura Mazda (the highest spirit in the Zoroastrian faith), and it is my father’s name.

And since our last name, Asadi, means “from the lions,” it’s fair to say my father encompassed the spirit of the lions.

Women in STEM: Interview with Sepideh Nasiri of Women Of MENA In Technology

Sheeva Azma — Thu, 11 Feb 2021 16:55:22 +0000

Immigrants enrich the countries in which they live by bringing culture, a new worldview, and, as studies show, an entrepreneurial spirit. Immigrants are foundational to entrepreneurship, and are twice as likely to become entrepreneurs than Americans born in the US.

Iranians in Tech: Interview with Amir Zonozi of Zoomph

Persianesque Staff — Mon, 08 Feb 2021 16:13:28 +0000

In the world of big tech, there’s never a shortage of Iranian names.

And our latest discovery, is the de facto change maker who runs Zoomph: Amir Zonozi.

As a leading sponsorship data analytics firm, Zoomph started as a “project focused on solving the chaos of social media, and that solution evolved into a company with an obsession on achieving human-level data quality by applying machine intelligence at big-data scale.”

Navá: Sounds of Iran & Ireland – Interview with Shahab Coohe

Jahnavi Veronica — Tue, 19 Jan 2021 16:11:36 +0000

I press play and close my eyes. I’m instantly transported to a beautiful landscape of sound and texture. It feels like flying over rolling waves, through starry skies, and lush green hillsides painted with wildflowers—like the sensation of setting off on an epic journey that is both new and deeply familiar.

Livestream Concert: Iranian Classical Music at Roudaki Hall

Persianesque Staff — Thu, 17 Dec 2020 14:12:40 +0000

The second round of online concerts of Iranian classical (Radif) music begins today!

Don’t miss this 4-day concert series taking place in Tehran from December 17th-20th, 2020, which will be live-streamed on Bonyad Roudaki’s and Hafdang’s Instagram pages, as well as Tiwall.com

Persian Rug Design: Jason Seife, “A Small Spark vs a Great Forest” at Unit London

Persianesque Staff — Thu, 10 Dec 2020 13:36:16 +0000

Upon completion of his solo exhibition Nucleus in 2018, Persian-speaking-Syrian-Cuban artist-du-jour Jason Seife, has been building towards his series of paintings inspired by Persian rug patterns: “A Small Spark vs A Great Forest,” which will be on view at Unit London beginning January 6th, 2021.

Iranian Art and Archeology: Titles, Crowns, and Divine Imagery in Ancient Iran

Persianesque Staff — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 02:01:23 +0000

Freer Gallery of Art and  Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, the Smithsonian’s  National  Museum of Asian Art,  are presenting an online lecture series highlighting new scholarship in the field of the art and archaeology of ancient Iran.

Capital Art London: “With My Roots” Contemporary Art Exhibit

Persianesque Staff — Fri, 04 Dec 2020 14:46:36 +0000

“With My Roots” is an annual exhibition held by UK-based, integrated art trade center, Capital Art London.

The exhibit aims to recognize Iranian contemporary artists and introduce their artworks to the global art market by building a reliable connection between the international art market, audiences, investors, collectors and Iranian Artists.

Donating to Charity: Omid Foundation

Persianesque Staff — Wed, 02 Dec 2020 00:30:13 +0000

With your help, Omid Foundation is now supporting 33 Farsi speaking female refugees in Greece, enabling them to find empowerment in their quest to build a new life for themselves in Europe.

Documentary Film: Female Voice of Iran

Persianesque Staff — Thu, 26 Nov 2020 21:30:38 +0000

Since 1979, solo singing in public is forbidden for women in Iran.

For several years, starting in 2015, Iranian ethnomusicologist Yalda Yazdani, and German filmmakers, Andreas Rochholl and Sebastian Leitner, have been travelling through Iran to meet and film female singers in all parts of this multi-ethnic, diverse country.

Zalzalak: Tirgan Kids Time

Persianesque Staff — Mon, 23 Nov 2020 13:29:41 +0000

Tirgan Kids Time is a fun and exciting program developed by Tirgan as a way to bring children together over the love and excitement of Persian folklore.

Presented in the form of a weekly series, the show follows the adventures of Zalzalak in the Tirgan House.

Modal Music: Labyrinth Online Music School

Persianesque Staff — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 13:16:58 +0000

As an expansion of the long-running Crete-based musical workshop created by renowned world musician Ross Daly, Labyrinth Online, is a digital platform dedicated to the modal musical traditions of the Middle East, the Mediterranean, Central and South Asia.

Independent Film: A Simple Wedding

Persianesque Staff — Wed, 12 Feb 2020 01:13:56 +0000

A Simple Wedding stars Iranian husband and wife acting legends Shohreh Aghdashloo and Houshang Touzie, alongside new-comer Tara Grammy, whose character, Nousha, is an Iranian-American girl living in California with a habit of sabotaging her relationships and frustrating her parents.

Iranian Music: Ghalbe Shishei by Poo Bon

Persianesque Staff — Sun, 21 Jul 2019 01:18:39 +0000

When we first heard Iranian artist-of-the-moment, Poo Bon‘s, song ‘Heif‘, we were hooked. But now we’re loving his sexy new-ish (released in January 2019) song, Ghalbe Shishei (Persian: Glass Heart) and we’ve got it on repeat.

Polo in Iran: Chogân, Game of Kings

Parisa Saranj — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 16:40:00 +0000

Naghsh-e-Jahân square is the heart of Esfahân. And this heart throbs to host Iranian natives and guests, foreign tourists or anyone who comes to admire the beauty of one of Iran’s many gems.

UKIFF: London Iranian Film Festival to Pay Tribute to Abbas Kiarostami

Persianesque Staff — Mon, 17 Oct 2016 18:33:50 +0000

UKIFF: London Iranian Film Festival is an annual, independent film festival held in London, United Kingdom. As the only festival in the UK dedicated to Iranian independent cinema, aims to provide a platform for Iranian cinema in the UK.

Translated Work: Guita Garakani’s There’s No One in the Mirror

Persianesque Staff — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 19:12:53 +0000

There’s No One in the Mirror is a collection of short stories by renowned Iranian author Guita Garakani.

Translated into English by Hedyeh Hastibakhsh, these stories–although written in deceptively simple language–have a depth and poignancy which touch the reader’s soul: From the exploration of deep emotions, loneliness, and despair, to a hint of light comedy, and even a touch of science fiction and the supernatural, this collection has something for fans of every genre.

FILMINUTE Film Festival: 2 Short Films from Iran Amongst Finalists

Persianesque Staff — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 18:09:59 +0000

The 11th edition of FILMINUTE, the international one-minute film festival, opened this week with a collection of the world’s best ultrashort films, each delivering a complete story in exactly one minute.

Eating Persian Food: Persian ASMR Youtube Artist

Persianesque Staff — Fri, 07 Oct 2016 19:38:04 +0000

ASMR–or what some refer to as “ear porn” or “head orgasm”–stands for Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response: A euphoric experience characterized by a static-like or tingling sensation on the skin that typically begins on the scalp and moves down the back of the neck and upper spine, resulting in relaxation.

Art Institute Photo Exhibit: Iran Beyond Politics

Persianesque Staff — Mon, 03 Oct 2016 19:02:54 +0000

For the first time in Georgia, The Art Institute of Atlanta illustrates Iranian society through a Iran-specific photo exhibit.

The Iran Beyond Politics exhibit is currently on display in the Janet Day Gallery through November 13th, 2016.

Iranian Artist Spotlight: Sassan Bakhtiar

Lorenzo Belenguer — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 15:54:22 +0000

Born in Paris, Iranian artist Sassan Bakhtiar, employs Western techniques like Pop Art and Photomontage to create a colorful collection of pieces emblazoned with imagery featuring Persian carpet designs as well as varying Iranian geometric styles.

Short Film: Bleed the Night

Persianesque Staff — Wed, 11 May 2016 20:51:33 +0000

We have a treat for you thriller movie lovers: The short film, Bleed the Night, directed by Reza Ghasemi.

As the synopsis explains it: “Audrey is stuck in limbo with no sign of escaping the living-dead.

Memoir: Weeping Arms

Alexandra Isfahani-Hammond — Sat, 07 May 2016 00:15:58 +0000

I can’t prove that my mother’s brain tumors were directly caused by 9/11, nor that they were exacerbated by the bombs that fell on Iraq eighteen months later. However, she did call me in tears to report that, riding the bus in the aftermath of the Twin Towers’ crashes, she’d intervened in a diatribe about Middle Easterners, been called “Terrorist!”

Foreign Investment in Iran: France’s AccorHotels Opens Two Hotels in Tehran, Novotel IKIA and ibis IKIA

Persianesque Staff — Thu, 22 Oct 2015 13:35:05 +0000

AccorHotels, the world’s leading hotel operator, has signed a management agreement with Aria Ziggurat for its two inaugural properties in Tehran. AccorHotels is the first international hotel group to launch its brands in Iran.

Shahnameh, Book of Kings: Exhibit at Princeton University Art Museum

Persianesque Staff — Mon, 19 Oct 2015 15:50:26 +0000

The Peck Shahnama will be on view at the Princeton University Art Museum from Oct. 3, 2015 through Jan. 24, 2016, the exhibit will feature all of the manuscript’s 48 illustrated and illuminated folios and will introduce the captivating splendor and art-historical significance of the Peck Shahnama to the public for the first time.

One-Minute Film Festival: 2 Films from Iran at FILMINUTE

Persianesque Staff — Mon, 14 Sep 2015 16:21:21 +0000

FILMINUTE is the international one-minute film festival that challenges filmmakers, writers, animators, artists,designers, and creative producers to develop and submit the world’s best one-minute films. Each of the twenty-five films shortlisted is held to the same standard: The director must deliver a complete story in sixty seconds.

Baba Joon: First Persian-Language Film Shot in Israel

Persianesque Staff — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 15:46:58 +0000

Baba Joon, the inaugural Persian-language film shot in Israel tells the story of Moti (Asher Avrahami), an only son to Yitzhak (Navid Negahban) and Sarah (Viss Elliot Safavi), owners of a turkey farm in a village in Israel’s Negev desert populated by Jewish immigrants from Iran, who maintain their unique Iranian culture, speak Persian amongst themselves and pursue the Iranian-Jewish way of life.

8th Annual Iranian Film Festival San Francisco

Persianesque Staff — Wed, 26 Aug 2015 13:50:17 +0000

Iranian Film Festival San Francisco, the first independent Iranian film festival outside of Iran, which showcases independent feature and short films made by or about Iranians from around the world, will present 33 films from ten countries at its 8th annual event on September 26th and 27th, 2015.

Nickelodeon’s Shimmer and Shine: Interview with Show Creator Farnaz Esnaashari-Charmatz

Persianesque Staff — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 16:33:52 +0000

Iranian-American artist: Farnaz Esnaashari-Charmatz creates Nickelodeon’s newest animated preschool series: Shimmer and Shine.

Debuting Monday, Aug. 24th, the series follows twin genies-in-training, Shimmer and Shine, who grant wishes for their human friend Leah that lead to surprising mishaps–but the trio always figures out a way to make the mistakes turn out great.

Operation Ajax: The Story of the CIA Coup that Reshaped the Middle East

Persianesque Staff — Mon, 10 Aug 2015 16:26:01 +0000

Produced by a team of award-winning artists, and based on an award-winning interactive storytelling app (available on iTunes with trailer below), Operation Ajax, is a thrilling tale of real-life intrigue in comic book format.

Op-Ed: Sanctions on Iran and the Dracula Theory

Yogesh Chabria — Mon, 10 Aug 2015 15:03:00 +0000

I was travelling from the South of France to Spain at night with my wife. On the bus, we met a girl who was from Romania. She was from Transylvania, which is well known for Dracula, the blood-sucking vampire.

Art Exhibit at Saatchi Gallery: “This is Tomorrow” Featuring Farhad Gavzan

Persianesque Staff — Thu, 06 Aug 2015 15:18:56 +0000

START, presented by Prudential, introduces START Projects, a series of curator-led initiatives that will occupy the entire second floor of the Saatchi Gallery in London.

Running from Wednesday, September 9th (Preview Day) to Sunday, September 13th, START is a five-day event that shines a spotlight on emerging artists.

Iranian Arts & Culture: Tirgan Festival

Persianesque Staff — Mon, 03 Aug 2015 18:50:38 +0000

Tirgan announces its 2015 program reflecting the tremendous ethnic diversity within Iran through music, dance, theatre, cinema, literature, visual arts, and cuisine.

Tirgan 2015 which runs from August 20-23rd in Toronto, Canada, continues the cultural dialogue between the Iranian community and the global community-at-large with new and returning artists.

Disney’s Descendants: Maz Jobrani as Jafar

Persianesque Staff — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 16:27:50 +0000

Disney’s “Descendants,” is a live-action movie that fuses castles with classrooms to create a contemporary, music-driven story about the challenges in living up to parental and peer expectations.

The synopsis reads: “The story, set in the idyllic kingdom of Auradon, playfully presents the unexpected possibilities of what happens after the “happily ever after.”

Iranian Art Exhibition: “There Are Too Many Walls But Not Enough Bridges”

Persianesque Staff — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 19:19:04 +0000

On the occasion of the ORYX Foundation’s 5^th anniversary, Iranian contemporary art will be on display at a Swiss Museum in: “There Are Too Many Walls But Not Enough Bridges”.

Culture of Fear: Thievery Corporation Featuring Loulou

Sanaz Khalaj-Santos — Sat, 27 Jun 2015 18:06:59 +0000

As a fan and friend of the amazingly talented DC-based electro-lounge pioneers, Thievery Corporation, we cannot tell you how excited we are about the release of Thievery’s much-anticipated album, Culture of Fear.

For Persian Kids: Persian Alphabet Blocks

Persianesque Staff — Sun, 10 May 2015 17:40:47 +0000

Golreezan.com, an Iranian-American line of Persian-inspired products, including: stationery apparel, stickers, magnets, and alphabet blocks, is thrilled to present the first-ever Persian alphabets blocks, a collaboration with Uncle Goose Toys, the world’s premier manufacturer of wooden alphabet blocks.

Iranian Jewelry Designer: LUZ by Houman Omidifar

Persianesque Staff — Thu, 30 Apr 2015 20:32:20 +0000

The LUZ fine jewelry collection is a piece of wearable art that you can conveniently display and enjoy on your finger.

Custom-made for the individual, the unisex line is boldly making its mark.

“Ariana’s Persian Kitchen”: Persian Cooking Show on Nat Geo People

Persianesque Staff — Wed, 29 Apr 2015 15:51:29 +0000

A Persian cooking show is on Nat Geo People.

Award winning Iranian-American chef and cookbook author, Ariana Bundy’s Ariana’s Persian Kitchen is an eight-part cooking and travel series, set to start airing across 98 countries in the Middle East, Asia, and Africa.

DC’s Real Top Chef: Chef Maziar Farivar of Peacock Cafe

Sanaz Khalaj-Santos — Thu, 26 Mar 2015 22:21:03 +0000

Have you ever wondered why there is such a lack of Persian Chefs in the culinary world?

We have.

So we searched and researched–sniffing around the global kitchen–and found our first five-star/diamond (in our opinion at least) Persian Chef in the US: Maziar Farivar, of Georgetown’s Prospect St.-treasure,

Positive Results: Iranians in Iran Polled About Iran Deal

Persianesque Staff — Sat, 31 Jan 2015 14:30:36 +0000

An independent researcher, Amir-Esmaeil Bozorgzadeh, conducted an online poll shortly after the nuclear agreement was made between Iran and the P5+1. The sample was compiled by questioning 2,050 respondents who currently live in Iran, and was fielded between July 27th and 29th, 2015.