Nine top photographers were awarded at the 9th Theater Photographers Ceremony earlier this week at the Iranian Artists’ Forum in Tehran.
The awardees, Hossein Esmaeili, Hossein Moslemi-Naeini, Emad Dolati, Seyed Ziaeddin Safavian, Kiarash Mosayebi, Masoud Mirmiri, Tayebeh Nasrollahi, Mahboubeh Faraj-Abadi and Sanam Tavakoli were honored and conferred commendation plaques at the ceremony organized by the Association of Iranian Theater Photographers.
The event was attended by cinema and theater personalities including Fatemeh Motamed-Aria, Reza Kianian, Mohammad Farnoud, Behzad Farahani, Seifollah Samadian, Masoud Zenderouh, Ebrahim Hosseini, Mohammad Jian, Amir Abedi and Khosrow Ahmadi, Mehr News Agency reported.
Farahani acknowledged the presence of artists at the event and commended the work of theater photographers. “The theater industry will always be grateful to photographers, as they are the ones who record sweet and bitter moments for the next generation. I hope the day will come when every single theater photographer has their own atelier and professional equipment.”
Ebrahim Hassani, head of IAF board of directors, criticized the lack of attention to photographers. “Although it’s a top profession, unfortunately theater photography is still not given its rightful place. Today, we have over 200 professionals in the field; however they are only partially known in the virtual networks and some national contests,” he lamented.
“Their works are worthy to be featured across the city, like the visual arts which have been placed in urban spaces.”
“As is the case with cinema, photography should also be considered important in the cultural scene, since a photographer’s role is as prominent as that of a film director and actor,” Zenderouh said in his speech.
Call on Hamid Jebeli
Cinema and theater artist, Reza Kianian recalled the contribution of Hamid Jebeli to puppet theater. “Jebeli is an outstanding stage and film actor and director. He is also the voice actor of the popular Iranian puppet character ‘Kolah Ghaemezi’ (literally the red hat). However, in recent times he is not active. Iran’s theater and cinema needs him, and I invite him to resume his brilliant and commendable work.”
Following Kianian’s speech, Jebeli went to the stage and received a commendation plaque from Motamed-Aria and Kianian. He briefly spoke on his current activities.
The ceremony wrapped up with the artists signing the memorial poster of the event.
