Open Letter to the Persian Academy Award, Arts en Exile & Iranian Arts in Exile by darius kadivar

I wanted to say how much I think this initiative by Iranian compatriot Mr. Dobrayani and spouse to create an Persian Academy Award in the field of Arts is a great idea as well as the efforts done by the directors of the Arts en Exile Festival in Paris.

In my own modest way I have been striving to promote the Iranian Cinema in the Diaspora. The persian Academy Awards can be a great way of honoring our artists and writers both in Europe and the United States and why not beyond. It should also be reminded that Iranian Artists in exile have been working hard and often without financial support in the past 26 years. Great Iranian actors, musicians and  art technicians need encouragment and many in are to be discovered.

The Iranian Cultural Community can only benefit from such initiatives that are necessary to our cultural identity as a community in exile or should I say away from home. Ironically Exile has been beneficial to Iranian Culture in many ways. It has allowed introspection in ourselves and our heritage. Never before in our history have we been more influential in raising interest in our culture, language and history not only within ourselves but within our country of adoption.

The number of female authors from Afsineh Nafisi (Reading Lolita in Tehran) to Afschnineh Latifi ( After All this Time) or Roya Hakakian (Journey to the Land of No) to name a few are speaking out. A new generation of Iranian Comic book artists such as Bruce Bahmani ( Rostam), or Marjane Satrapy (Persepolis, Embroideries) have been paving the way for a new approach of our Myths and history.

Nima Kiann founder of the Ballets Persans is succesfully bringing back the memories of Persian Ballets Repertoire as was held in Roudaki Hall under the supervision of such greats as Maurice Béjart of Rudolf Nureeve.

Hollywood is also being penetrated by Artists of Iranian origine, such as Shohleh Aghdashloo( X-Men 3, House of Sand and Fog) , Maz Jobrani( The interpreter) , Catherine Bell (JAG TV Series), Kayvan Mashayekh( The Keeper: The legend of Omar Khayyam), or Babak Shokrian ( America so Beautiful) to name a few.

Competition often a harsh reality is not only healthy but necessary and can only enhance the work of artists and elevate the Artforms we wish to serve. It is not done without sacrifice nor without effort.  

It is for this reason  I wish to thank the Persian Academy Awards of Budapest and The association d'Arts en Exile for their excellent work and sincerley wishing them and other similar cultural centers the  best in the years to come.

Darius KADIVAR

Film reviewer and film Historian