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Edinburgh Iranian Festival
29-Dec-2010
The Edinburgh Iranian Festival is a non-political showcase for world-class Iranian culture, as well as for bands and artists working both in and outside Iran. The primary aims of this festival is to introduce the tremendous breadth of Iranian history and culture to adults and children living in Scotland, as well as to integrate the Iranian community into Scottish society through a broad range of interactive events spanning across a wide range of art-forms. The festival is planned on a not-for-profit basis, organised by volunteers, and is affiliated to Edinburgh University Persian Society (EUPS).
The first Edinburgh Iranian Festival took place in 2009, with 35 events that were attended by 2500 people. There were fourteen films, music concerts, exhibitions, lectures on Iranian history and literature, and stand-up comedy shows. In addition, a number of local restaurants offered Iranian menus for the duration of the festival. The second season of the festival is due to take place from 28 January to 6 February 2011. The 2011 festival is planned to include sport events and a mini bazaar, in addition to new shows in many of the same categories that proved popular in 2009.
Events includes:
- Comedy show by Patrick Monahan, Peyvand Khorsandi and Sam Farzaneh.
- Painting exhibition by Maryam Hashemi and Sam Farzaneh
- Poetry night by contemporary Iranian poets such as Lobat Vala, Mehri Kashani and Soheila Ghodstinat
- Photo exhibition by various Iranian artists such as: Roxana Pope, Sara Mohseni, Mehrdad Azmin, and Bahar Azazdi.
- A mini Iranian Bazar, with stalls selling various Iranian products
- Book reading and Q&A, with Dr. Dr. Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones and his latest book Ctesias at the Court of the Great King
- Series of lectures on ancient Persia and a lecture on Iranian/Muslim/British identity
- Talk on Persian carpets and Persian tiles
- Iranian food at cafes and restaurants around Edinburgh
- Iranian Film season including a film seminar on Women and Films in Iran
- Traditional music concert with Magham Ensemble and Dunya Ensemble
- Pop music concert with live music by GOL, Scottish Ceilidh by FiddleGuitar, and Persian Disco
- And other events such as a pub quiz on Iran, Yoga classes in Farsi and English, Santour Music classes, Iranian cookery classes, and a 5 aside football tournament between Scotland and Iran!
For more information please visit the festival website at www.ediranfest.co.uk. The festival brochure, containing the full festival programme can also be downloaded from the home page of our website.
| Recently by mahashemi | Comments | Date |
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| Iranian pianist Golriz Hashemi's concert: 16th Oct at St James's Church | - | Sep 30, 2009 |
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Wishing You all the Best But one of your comments made me smile
by Darius Kadivar on Wed Dec 29, 2010 04:02 PM PSTWhy is it that nearly ALL Cultural Endeavors by IRanians in the Diaspora need to apologize for being Political ? :
"The Edinburgh Iranian Festival is a non-political showcase for world-class Iranian culture"
Sorry but whether you do it consciencely or subconsciencely by organizing a Cultural Event on Iran or about all things Iranian you are de facto making a Political Statement because you aim at Preserving and perpetuating a cultural identity which happens to be suppressed back home to absurd levels:
Iranian academic: Achaemenids were Jews!
I should Add that the Duty of Culture is to Fight Ignorance and as such promoting it is a Political act and a noble one from that point of view.
As such I don't understand why you should even mention that you are Not Political ?
Of Course You are ... Only You don't know it ... and All the Better !
Why has the Word "Politics" been given such a bad name in our community these days ?
Being Political does not mean that one necessarily supports a given political party or Ideology.
Being Political means participating in the life of the city as the ancient Greeks understood it.
It can even be an ACT OF FAITH, As Faith in the Arts ...
As was the case for French Artists like Jean Vilar or Gérard Philippe who organized the TNP ( Théatre National Populaire) aimed at performing great classic plays for large audiences who had less opportunities to go to the Theater :
Mac Beth Jean Vilar
Gérard Philipe - 1958, Interview devant Chaillot.
Isn't Promoting the Arts an active participation in the Cultural life of a society ?
Isn't that what you are doing here ? ...
So why feel the necessity or obligation to insist on the fact that you are a non political event ?
Everything in life is about Politics. In the Noble Sense of the word.
Shakespeare was ALL about Politics. It was educating the masses about the realities of governing society and a reminder that history can be tragic.
The Same for Ferdowsi:
Words For Eternity ...
What amazes me is that ALL Iranian Diaspora Events and Cultural organizations feel an obligation to apologize for it.
I should add that as a community in the Diaspora we should Not only Not Apologize for being "Political" but should be "Political" specifically when our culture and identity has been under threat for the past 30 years and particularly today.
Why Promote Persian Poetry, Music, theater or Cinema if we are Not Willing to Stand Up for Our Artists Back Home ?
CINEMA SOLIDARNOSC: Looking Back at The Film's Community's Support For Jafar Panahi
Otherwise such a Statement is nothing short of hypocrisy endorsed by "political correctness".
Wishing you nevertheless All the best in your cultural Endeavors and success in this interesting and worthwhile cultural event.
So allow me as an Iranian Frenchman to conclude with a Friendly Slogan hailing your Festival:
VIVE LE FESTIVAL IRANIEN D'EDINBOURG !
Best,
DK
Film Critic and Columnist
Spoiled for choice
by Ryszard Antolak on Wed Dec 29, 2010 12:44 PM PSTI'll certainly be there. Many thanks for the information.