Azerbaijani theater group joins int’l festival in Iran
By Sara Rajabova
The Iranian capital Tehran hosted the 31st edition of the Fajr International Theatre Festival from January 15 to January 31.
The festival, established in 1983, is one of the most influential theater festivals in the world and features local and international theatrical works and performers.
An Azerbaijani theater group was among the famous theatrical groups from around the world that joined this great cultural event.
The Azerbaijani Culture and Tourism Ministry says that the group of the State Academic National Drama Theatre performed at the festival with the "Woman throwing herself under the train" play by well-known playwright Afaq Masud.
The play described the life of an actress that moved away from the stage, but devoted all her youth and life to theatre. The performance was staged by honorary art worker of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic Mehriban Alekberzadeh.
Besides, film director of the Theatre for Young Spectators, national artist of Azerbaijan Jannat Salimova represented Azerbaijan in the jury of the 31st edition of the Fajr International Film Festival.
The theater festival honored the winners during a closing ceremony held at Tehran's Vahdat Hall on January 31. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad along with some officials and many prominent Iranian performers attended the ceremony.
Iranian director Ali Asghar Dashti and Swiss director Niklaus Helbling won the Best Director Award in the international competition section of the event for their jointly created work Tell/Zahhak.
Iranian actor Morteza Ismail Kashi and actress Pantea Panahiha received the Best Actor and Actress Awards for their roles in Woyzeck, a play adapted from a family drama by German writer Georg Buchner.
The Best Stage Designer Award went to Manouchehr Shoja for his work in Reza Gouran's play Hamlet while Atousa Qalamfarsaei received the Best Costume Designer Award of the festival.
Sima Tirandaz garnered the Best Director Award for The Facing Man at the Iranian competition section.
Several veteran Iranian actors including Ezzatollah Entezami, Mohammad Ali Keshavarz, Jamshid Mashayekhi, Davoud Rashidi and Jaleh Olov were honored at the ceremony with the First Grade Orders of Art and Culture dedicated by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.