Independent Film News

Docs and Shorts from Iran Find Online Home

Announced today was the launch of Short Film News, an Iranian endeavor to highlight the emerging film industry in the country.

The site began in 2004 and was strickly in Persian. With the new English version, Director and Editor Marjan Riahi hopes to bring the world of film to Iran and vice versa. In a recent email, she said:

...our main goal is to...introduce Iranian short films, documentaries, experimental films and animated works to the people around the world, and to spread the news of their participation in domestic and internations events...

From the looks of it, the site looks pretty comprehensive and professionally put together. Highlighted in the World News section is a piece about the Dubai International Film Festival. The global focus of the site is evident; the Links page is filled with connections to festivals around the world. One of the lead stories is an intriguing read on the history of documentary film in Iran.

With all the bad press Iran is getting these days, it's great to be reminded that culture and artistic expression still exist. Governments might not be able to work out their issues. Films, however, are universal.