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Annual Report 2012-2013

Annual Report2012-2013

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Farhang at a Glance

ConstituenciesA. Trustees, Council Members, Advisors & SupportersIranians, Iranophiles and Iran Scholars who support the mission of Farhang Foundation and our programs by donating their time, knowledge and financial support.

B. Iranian-Americans (Iranians in our community)These are the people that most immediately relate to and benefit from learning more about their art and culture. They are also the individuals who will later be our cultural ambassadors to the community at large.

C. Non-Iranians (Community-at-large)We feel that Iranian art and culture can contribute positively and should be woven into the multi-colored tapestry of great cultures that comprise America. That’s why our mission at Farhang Foundation is to celebrate and promote Iranian art and culture for the benefit of the community-at-large.

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Farhang Foundation is a non-religious, non-political, not-for-profit foundation dedicated to celebrating, promoting, studying and researching Iranian art, culture and history for the benefit of the community at large.


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Table of Contents

Chairman’s Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Summer Concert: Niyaz, Strunz & Farah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Meet Farhang: A Night of Poetry & Nostalgia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2013 Nowruz Contests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2012 Shahnameh Festival . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Light & Shadows: The Story of Iranian Jews . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Farhang Connect: A Night of Persian Culture with a Contemporary Twist . . . 2012 Farhang Heritage Award . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lectures at UCLA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Cyrus Cylinder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Iranian Americans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Programming at Hammer Museum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ali Banisadr at MOCA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Social History of Iranian Cinema . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5th Annual Farhang Foundation Short Film Festival . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Celebrating Nowruz 2013 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2013 UCLA Celebration of Iranian Cinema . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11th Annual Culture Show at UCLA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Explore Farhang: An Afternoon with Ferdowsi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Looking Ahead: Ongoing & Upcoming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Farhang Sources of Funds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Our Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Farhang Councils . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Patrons & Donors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Special Thanks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . How You Can Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Chairman’s Message

Table of Contents

Dear Friends,

Each year, when it is time for this message to be written, I am given an opportunity to revisit the past twelve months and recall its highlights. And each year our highlights keep getting brighter. This past year, one of our most significant accomplishments has been the expansion of our area-focused councils. Three new councils were started to gather support and focus attention on specific initiatives. We created a Generations Council, to focus on the younger generation; a Patrons Council, to focus on fundraising; and a UCLA Council to focus on increasing our activities with the university. These new councils joined our previously established Iranian Studies, Orange County, and Fine Arts councils, which all had significant growth in members and activities, all overseen by Farhang’s Board of Trustees. Thanks to our councils, Farhang Foundation now enjoys its largest and most dynamic membership team to-date, allowing us to serve our community in more ways, while simultaneously increasing our focus and resources in each area of importance. Among our ongoing programs, our flagship Nowruz program at LACMA, along with numerous academic lectures at prestigious universities including UCLA and UC Irvine, continued to grow and reflect Farhang’s ongoing commitment our established community partnerships. A highlight of these partnerships is our ongoing and enduring relationship with USC which resulted in a first-ever Iranian Studies program at the university. Thanks to our joint efforts and the generous support of Farhang Foundation donors, this year USC students were able to apply for a minor degree in Iranian Studies for the first time in school history. In due time, we hope to expand this initiative even further helping enable USC to offer students a major in Iranian Studies as well. While ongoing programs are the core of our great foundation, perhaps our greatest achievement this past year was our historic efforts to bring the Cyrus Cylinder exhibition to Los Angeles. An ancient Persian artifact declaring freedom as a human right, the Cyrus Cylinder has been brought to the U.S. for the first time ever, and will be on display at the Getty Villa from October 2 through December 2, 2013. This artifact embodies the ancient Persian king’s belief in freedom for all people, as well as respect for cultural and religious diversity. Although Cyrus lived nearly 2,600 years ago, his notions have

Farhang’s Fifth Year

inspired political leaders for centuries, including the Founding Fathers of America, who wrote his ideals of freedom into the core of the U.S. Constitution. The organization of this exhibition was no small task, or financial undertaking. However, in a new partnership with the Getty Museum, and with the unbelievable support from many members of our diverse community, Farhang Foundation was able to raise the funds and resources required to make it possible. In its brief stay in Los Angeles, the Cyrus Cylinder exhibition shall be seen by over half a million people in our community and will shine a bright light on the central role of Iran and Iranians in the history of world civilization. This is something that all Farhang supporters should be proud of helping make happen, especially here in Los Angeles, home of the largest Iranian Diaspora. Farhang Foundation is honored to have been a part of these efforts. Lastly, in honor of the enduring vision of Cyrus and this historic visit, Farhang Foundation is planning to launch an international competition to create a permanent large-scale urban art monument or sculpture to honor Cyrus’ vision of universal Freedom. The winning submission will be built and situated in a prominent location in Los Angeles, commissioned by Farhang Foundation as a gift to the city on behalf of our Iranian-American community. The Freedom Monument will be a permanent reminder of the ancient Iranian and fundamental American belief that freedom is a right that belongs to all humanity. As always, the dedication of our Board of Trustees, council members, donors, the many guests at our events, and our management team, has been the key factor in all our successes. I thank you all for your support.

With deep gratitude,

Ali C. RaziChairman & Board of Trustees


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Performing Arts Poetry

Summer Concert: Niyaz, Strunz & Farah

Farhang Foundation had the great pleasure of hosting a free outdoor concert at the California Plaza’s Watercourt stage in Downtown Los Angeles. The evening, presented by Grand Performances and hosted by KCRW DJ Aaron Byrd, featured the acclaimed trio known as Niyaz (Carmen Rizzo, Azam Ali, and Loga Ramin Torkian), accompanied by Grammy nominated

Jorge Strunz and Ardeshir Farah (known as Strunz & Farah). As the Sufi mysticism and western electronica of Niyaz fused with the unique sounds of Strunz & Farah's Middle Eastern-style Flamenco and Afro-Cuban percussion, this electric night of music was truly an unforgettable experience.

Meet Farhang: A Night of Poetry & Nostalgia

Year after year, Meet Farhang: A Night of Poetry and Nostalgia remains one of Farhang Foundation’s most popular events. This year, Farhang Foundation hosted a very special poetry evening that paid tribute to the works of Iranian poets Saadi, Rudaki, Araghi and Shahriar, and was performed in the traditional format of golha, where poetry is first recited then sang

while accompanied by Persian music. Homa Sarshar, best-selling author and award-winning journalist, recited passages from the works of these literary legends, set to beautiful traditional Persian music, performed by the acclaimed and talented musicians, Mohammad Hasani and Shahin Yousefzamani.


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Community Involvement & Contests

2013 Nowruz Contests Nowruz Banner Contest

Community Involvement & Contests

Call for Community SubmissionsNowruz Celebration at LACMA

The winner of the 2013 Nowruz Banner Contest was Sheida Koufigar, an Iranian-American graphic designer currently studying at California State University, Long Beach. Her festive design featured a mahi va tong (goldfish and bowl), which is a traditional fixture of the Haft-Sîn. In the weeks leading to Farhang’s 5th Annual Nowruz Celebration at

LACMA, her design was featured on promotional street banners along prominent areas throughout Los Angeles, including the Wilshire Corridor, Westwood Boulevard, as well as Ventura Boulevard in the San Fernando Valley.

Since 2008, Farhang Foundation has marked the tradition of Nowruz with a grand day of festivities at LACMA. Central to this grand celebration, is a performing arts piece visualizing some aspect of Nowruz, selected from proposals sent to Farhang by artists and writers from around the world. This year’s winning performing arts submission, The Dawn of Spring by Shahin Yousefzamani, premiered before

a live audience at the museum’s Leo S. Bing Theater during Farhang’s 5th Annual Nowruz Celebration at LACMA. Through a dynamic fusion of music, dance, storytelling and video imagery, this enchanting performance explored the colorful and ancient traditi-ons of Nowruz and its many delightful rituals that continue to bring joy to all who celebrate the festivity.


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Literature Performing Arts

Farhang Foundation, in partnership with the Samuel Jordan Center for Persian Studies and Culture at the University of California, Irvine, organized a full day of events dedicated to celebrating the national epic of Iran and one of the masterpieces of Persian literature, Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh (Book of Kings). The 2012 Shahnameh Festival kicked off with a free conference at UC Irvine, offering lectures by notable international scholars discussing various elements of the Shahnameh, including its historic, cultural and artistic implications.

Participating scholars included:(alphabetical order)

Firuza Abdullaeva (University of Cambridge)Ali Ansari (University of St Andrews)Touraj Daryaee (UC Irvine)Linda Komaroff (Los Angeles County Museum of Art)Mazyar Lotfalian (UC Irvine)Mahmoud Omidsalar (CSU Los Angeles)Alka Patel (UC Irvine)Sonya Rhie Quintanilla (The Cleveland Museum of Art)Jennifer Rose (Claremont Graduate University)Rahim Shayegan (UC Los Angeles)Charles Melville (University of Cambridge)Yuhan S-D Vevaina (Stanford University)

The festival continued in the evening with Love Stories of the Shahnameh at the Irvine Barclay Theatre. Written by the incomparable Gordafarid (considered to be the first naqqal or storyteller), Love Stories of the Shahnameh depicted three tales from Ferdowsi’s epic: Shirin & Khosrow, Bahram & Arezoo, and Sohrab & Gordafarid. Choreographed by the international dance and theater virtuoso Shahrokh Moshkin Ghalam, featured the remarkable Miriam Peretz and Moshkin Ghalam in a highly-praised and moving performance.

Storyline & Naqqali by: Gordafarid (In Persian)Choreography & Production Design: Shahrokh Moshkin GhalamDance Performance by: Shahrokh Moshkin Ghalam & Miriam Peretz


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History Youth Programming

Light & Shadows: The Story of Iranian Jews

Light and Shadows: The Story of Iranian Jews, an exhibition that took place at the Fowler Museum at UCLA, offered a fascinating look at the history of the nearly 3,000 year old Jewish community in Iran through archaeological artifacts, manuscripts, ceremonial garments, musical instruments, paintings, photographs, video, and more. The exhibition also explored twentieth century Iran through Hasan Sarbakhshian's photographs of the remaining Jewish community in Iran and installations by artists Shelley Gazin and Jessica Shokrian about

Iranian Jews in Los Angeles. Light and Shadows: The Story of Iranian Jews was created and organized by Beit Hatfutsot-The Museum of the Jewish People, Tel Aviv, Israel. Farhang Foundation was proud to partner with the Y&S Nazarian Family Foundation (lead sponsor), The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles (exhibition partner), Milken Community High School and the Sinai Temple (co-sponsors).

Farhang Connect: A Night of Persian Culture with a Contemporary TwistOne of Farhang Foundation’s most significant achievements has been launching the Farhang Generations Council. Dedicated to furthering the foundation’s mission by engaging forthcoming generations of Iranian-Americans in Iranian art and culture, Farhang’s Generations Council officially kicked-off with Farhang Connect: A Night of Persian Culture with a Contemporary Twist at the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills. The evening featured Ardeshir Radpour, acclaimed professional polo (chogun) player and historian; Payman Hamed, Persian calligrapher;

Hamid Saeidi and Mehrdad Arabifard, masters of traditional Persian music; and musical performances by Cameron Rafati and DJ Kabo. Farhang Connect was well-attended by Iranian-American professionals eager to become more involved with the foundation’s mission. To learn more about Farhang Generations Council and for a list of upcoming events, please visit farhang.org/generations.

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Awards

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Academic Activities | Literature

2012 Farhang Heritage Award

This year, Farhang Foundation recognized the prolific playwright, filmmaker, and researcher, Bahram Beyzaie with the 2012 Farhang Heritage Award for “His devotion to art, his enduring scholarship and contribution to the range of Iranian theatrical forms, and his love of the aesthetic and cultural legacy of Iran.” The Daryabari Visiting Professor of Persian Letters at Stanford University, Bahram Beyzaie has had an illustrious career, with more than thirty-five plays and fifty screenplays to his credit. As a filmmaker, he has been noted for his pivotal role in Iran’s new wave of cinema and has made ten feature and four short films, among them Mustachioed Uncle, The Journey, Talking with the Wind, The Speaking Carpet, Downpour, The Stranger and the Fog, The Crow, The Ballad of Tara, Death of Yazdgerd, Bashu, The Little Stranger, Maybe Some Other Time, The Travelers, Killing Rabids, and While We Are All Asleep. As a scholar, Mr. Beyzaie has written one of the most authoritative works on the history of Iranian theater and recently completed a manuscript on A Thousand and One Nights, in which he presents a new interpretation of the Indo-Iranian origins of these tales.

Since 2009, the Farhang Heritage and Lifetime Achievement Awards have been presented to various notables and luminaries, including Ehsan Yarshater, Richard Nelson Frye, Amin Banani, Simin Behbahani, Abbas Milani, Iraj Afshar and Hossein Ziai.

Lectures at UCLA Myths in Bahram Beyzaie’s Works

A Night of Poetry with Houshang Ebtehaj

Farhang Foundation and UCLA Center for Near Eastern Studies proudly presented a lecture by Bahram Beyzaie, prolific playwright, film director, and researcher at UCLA. Over the past five decades, Mr. Beyzaie has published more than 35 plays, written more than 50 screenplays, and created more than a dozen films. Conducted in Persian, this free and public lecture was presented before a full house and met with an overwhelmingly positive reception.

Farhang Foundation, in collaboration with UCLA Center for Near Eastern Studies and UCLA 16 Graduate Student Association, hosted A Night of Poetry with Houshang Ebtehaj, which featured the insights of renowned poet Houshang Ebtehaj, accompanied by masters of traditional Persian music, Fariborz Azizi on tar and Pejman Hadadi on tonbak. This sold-out program once again demonstrated the deep passion for poetry prevalent among the Iranian-American community.


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Culture

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Culture

The Cyrus CylinderFor the first time in history, the Cyrus Cylinder, one of the ancient world’s most celebrated artifacts of freedom and human rights, is being brought to the United States for exhibition. Housed at the British Museum in London, the Cyrus Cylinder will travel to five major U.S. cities in 2013. The Cyrus Cylinder will be accompanied in this exhibition by sixteen objects under the title The Cyrus Cylinder & Ancient Persia: A New Beginning. The exhibition shows the innovations initiated by Persian rule in the Ancient Near East (550 BC-331 BC), when the Persian Empire was then the largest the world had known. The tour debuted at the Smithsonian’s Arthur M. Sackler Gallery in Washington D.C. in March 2013 before traveling to the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco. The tour concludes its journey with an nine week stay at the J. Paul Getty Museum at The Getty Villa in Los Angeles from October 2 - December 2, 2013.

Farhang Foundation is proud to be the financial sponsor and community organization working with the Getty Museum to ensure the success of the Cyrus Cylinder tour in its last and most anticipated stop, Los Angeles, home to the largest Iranian community outside Iran. “It is an honor to be bringing this great artifact from our glorious Iranian culture to the community here in Los Angeles,” said Ali C. Razi, chairman of the board of trustees at Farhang Foundation. “In the

coming months, we will be reaching out to other community leaders and organizations to help spread the word to as many people as possible, within the community at large about this historic opportunity to showcase one of the most iconic artifacts of our culture.” “Freedom is the most treasured of human rights and forms the very heart of what it means to be American,” said Farhad Mohit, Farhang Foundation trustee. “As the Cyrus Cylinder shows, the concept of freedom

The 2,500 year old Cyrus Cylinder is one of the most celebrated objects to have survived from the ancient world and is

often referred to as the first bill of human rights as it appears to free all slaves,

encourage freedom of worship throughout the Persian Empire and to allow deported

people to return to their homelands.

as a basic human right perhaps originated in ancient Iran. Therefore, this exhibition offers a great opportunity to come together and celebrate our shared cultural values, with everyone in our new home in the United States.” Beyond its significance for an American audience, the sweeping vision, humanitarian values and respect for diverse faiths conveyed on the Cyrus Cylinder have made it truly an object of world heritage. In fact, it is so valued by people all around the world as a symbol of religious freedom and multiethnic coexistence that a copy of the Cylinder is on display in the United Nations building in New York.

Additionally, the Cylinder has been seen by Biblical scholars as corroborative evidence of Cyrus’ policy of the repatriation of the Jewish people after the Persian King freed them from Babylonian captivity. And his kind treatment of the Jewish people is also reported in the Bible, making Cyrus, a Persian King,

the only non-Jewish person designated as a Messiah, or divinely appointed leader, in the Torah.

“Perhaps no other object in the world today dispels so many popular myths, brings together many seemingly divergent cultures and peoples, and focuses all who see it on such unifying humanitarian ideals, as this small clay cylinder from Iran of 2,500 years ago,” said Bita Milanian, executive director of Farhang Foundation. “It is our hope that our community spreads the word about this exhibition, so that as many people as possible learn about the Cyrus Cylinder and come to appreciate true Iranian culture through the lens of our shared ideals.” The Cyrus Cylinder touring exhibition (2013, United States) is organized by the British Museum in partnership with the Iran Heritage Foundation and the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian Institution. The exhibition is suppo-rted by an indemnity from the Federal Council on the Arts and the Humanities.

The Los Angeles presentation is made possible by financial support from Farhang Foundation.

J. Paul Getty Museum at the Getty Villa


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Film

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Lecture | Poetry | Film

The Iranian Americans

The Iranian Americans premiered on PBS SoCal after much anticipation. Chronicling the history of Iranian American immigrants seeking refuge in the United States, this documentary offered a historical look at Persia more than two millennia ago, and featured the perspectives of 25 Iranian Americans recounting their experiences as immigrants. They included Maz Jobrani (actor/comedian), Jimmy Delshad (politician and former mayor of Beverly Hills), Firouz Naderi (director of solar system exploration at NASA's JPL), Goli Ameri (former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs and a former delegate to the United Nations), and Hamid Biglari (vice-chairman of Citicorp). Major funding for The Iranian Americans was provided by Bahman and Hamila Atefi, Joseph and Mahnaz Moinian; Y&S Nazarian Foundation; Bita Daryabari; Hamid Moghadam and Christina M. Gwatkin; Pivotal Foundation/F. Francis Najafi; Nasser J. Kazeminy; Farhang Foundation; Shahbazi Family.

An Iranian American family celebrates Thanksgiving. Courtesy of the Goshtasby family.

Programming at Hammer Museum

Tehran: An Urban History of Revolutions

Ecstasy & the Persian Spirit

Farhang Foundation co-presented the screening of The Iran Job, a documentary film directed by Till Schauder about Kevin Sheppard, an American basketball player who moves to Iran in pursuit of his basketball career amid the escalating reformist uprisings in Iran that ultimately become known as the Green Movement. A Q&A session with Sara Nodjoumi, one of the filmmakers followed the screening at Hammer Museum.

Farhang Foundation, along with the Hammer Museum co-presented a lecture by Professor Talinn Grigor, the associate professor of Modern and Contemporary Architecture at Brandeis University. Professor Grigor, an architectural historian, explored the relationship between architecture and politics in Iran, with a look at Tehran's urban space and its embodiment of the social and economic stratification within Iran. Free and open to the public, Tehran: An Urban History of Revolutions took place at the Billy Wilder Theatre at the Hammer Museum.

The Iran Job

Poetry enthusiasts were treated to a special evening of poetry called Ecstasy and the Persian Spirit, sponsored by Farhang Foundation. Featuring poetry readings by Majid Naficy, Bernard Radfar, and Niloufar Talebi at the Hammer Museum, Ecstasy and the Persian Spirit blended contemporary and classical poems read in both Persian and in the ancient language of Aramaic, and was set to traditional Persian music, performed by Sahba Motallebi (on tar and setar), Mehdi Bagheri (on kamancheh, tonbak, and setar), and Bobak Salehi (on setar, violin, and Spanish guitar). This program was presented in conjunction with Light and Shadows: The Story of Iranian Jews.


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Art Film

Ali Banisadr at MOCA

The work of celebrated artist, Ali Banisadr, went on display at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles (MOCA) as part of the museum’s permanent collection exhibit called A Selection of Recent Acquisitions. Gifted to the museum by Thaddaeus Ropac, Banisadr’s It’s in the Air (2002) was featured during the monthlong exhibit alongside the works of other prominent Iranian artists, including Shoja Azari’s The Day of the Last Judgment (2009) and Shiva Ahmadi’s Safe Haven (2011), both of which were gifted to the museum by Leila Heller and are now part of the museum's permanent collection as well. Farhang Foundation is proud of the talented Iranian artistic community for joining the prestigious museum’s permanent collection.

It’s in the Air, 2012 by Ali Banisadr.Oil on linen 208.3 x 304.8 cm (82 x 120 in)

Lecture at UCISocial History of Iranian Cinema

Farhang Foundation and the Samuel Jordan Center for Persian Studies at UC Irvine proudly collaborated once again to host a full day of free and public lectures at UC Irvine, focusing on the social histories of Iranian cinema pre- and post-Revolution. The lectures were presented by Professor Hamid Naficy, a leading authority on Iranian cinema and the Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani Professor in Communica-tion at Northwestern University. In conjunction with the lecture, Farhang Foundation and the Samuel Jordan Center screened This is Not a Film, a secretly made documentary, depicting a day-in-the-life of Jafar Panahi, the acclaimed filmmaker who, in 2010, was sentenced to a six-year imprisonment and a twenty-year ban from filmmaking in Iran.


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Film Film

This year, Farhang Foundation presented a two-day Nowruz celebration at LACMA. The first night of the festivities honored the top submissions from the 5th Annual Farhang Foundation Short Film Festival.

Rostam in WonderLand – Sohrab’s Blood (Iran) by Pouya Afshar and Soroush Rezaee was named the winner of this year’s film festival and the recipient of the top prize of $10,000. Namaki (Iran) by Hajar Mehrani placed second and was awarded $5,000. Third place winner and the recipient of $3000 was Distant Words (Australia) by Nassiem Valamanesh. Rounding out the top six submissions were And We Pass By (Iran) by Parisa Gorgin, Karbafi (Iran) by the International Institute of Jame Mirase Jahan, and Khourosh Ali Khan: Jazz Fusion in Iran (USA) by Ramtin Nikzad, listed in no particular order.

This special evening, co-sponsored by LACMA’s Art of the Middle East: CONTEMPORARY, took place at the museum’s Bing Theater and

included red carpet arrivals, a screening of the top six submissions, an awards ceremony in which the top three submissions were named, followed by an exclusive reception in honor of the filmmakers. The awards ceremony was hosted by Shirin Rajaee (News Anchor, ABC News Santa Barbara), with DJ Kabo providing the music and Chef Jason Fullilove of Patina providing his unique take on Persian-inspired appetizers. Farhang Foundation received more than seventy submissions this year from a variety of genres and countries, including the United States, Canada, Iran, Nepal, Armenia, France, United Kingdom, Australia, and Bangladesh. Founded in 2009, the Farhang Foundation Short Film Festival has quickly become one of the leading festivals dedicated to celebrating Iranian heritage through short film, video and animation, aiming to spark the audience's interest in learning more about Iranian culture.

WWW.FARHANGFILMFEST.ORG

Annual Report2012-2013 Traditions | Performing Arts Traditions | Performing Arts

Celebrating Nowruz 2013

5th Annual NowruzCelebration at LACMAFarhang Foundation, in collaboration with the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), hosted the 5th Annual Nowruz (Iranian New Year) Celebration, which attracted thousands of guests to the museum and has consistently remained the foundation’s most popular event.

Featuring costumed Persian musicians and dancers; performances by Ballet Afsaneh; a scavenger hunt and calligraphy for children; special presentations of artwork; Persian food; and a Haft-Sîn (a traditional centerpiece of Nowruz); this year’s Nowruz celebration

was highlighted by the world premiere performance of The Dawn of Spring by Shahin Yousefzamani at the Bing Theater. Shahin Yousefzamani was the winner of this year’s Nowruz Community Submissions contest, in which the foundation called upon the public to submit a proposal for a performing arts piece for the annual Nowruz program. Through a dynamic fusion of music, dance, storytelling and video imagery, The Dawn of Spring explored the colorful and ancient tradition of Nowruz and its many delightful rituals that continue to bring joy to various peoples of the world.

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Celebrations wrapped up in the evening at the BP Grand Entrance, with a live musical performance by Rana Mansour and Karmandan by Erwin Khachikian. The collaboration between these two artists featured songs from previous decades arranged and presented with a modern twist. The top six submissions to the 5th Annual Farhang Foundation Short Film Festival played on loop at the museum’s Brown Auditorium much to the delight of cinema enthusiasts.

In the weeks leading to this two-day Nowruz celebration, Farhang Foundation promoted the event, as in previous years, through event banners overlooking prominent streets in Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley. This year’s banners featured the mahi va tong (goldfish and bowl) design created by a local graphic designer named Sheida Koufigar, who was the winner of this year’s Nowruz Banner Contest presented by Farhang Foundation.

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Film

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Culture | Traditions

2013 UCLA Celebration of Iranian Cinema

UCLA Film & Television Archive and Farhang Foundation once again joined forces to celebrate Iranian cinema, marking the third year of collabora-tion between the two organizations in honor of the cinematic contributions of Iranian filmmakers and artists. The UCLA Celebration of Iranian Cinema, now in its 23rd year, took place at the Billy Wilder Theater and kicked off with the screening of Downpour (1972) directed by Bahram Beyzaie, who was in attendance that evening. Featuring a diverse array of films and filmmaking styles that cover a range of topics, this year’s lineup included: Modest Reception (Iran, 2012), Rhino Season (Iran, 2012), Facing Mirrors (Iran, 2011), No Entry for Men (Iran, 2011), The Reluctant Bachelor (Iran, 2011), Unwelcome in Tehran (Iran, 2012), Street Sultans (Iran, 2012), Fat Shaker (Iran, 2013), The Entrance (Iran, 2011), Felicity Land (Iran, 2011) and The Last Step (Iran, 2012).

11th Annual Culture Show at UCLA

Over the course of the last few years, we have cherished our role as a sponsor of the Annual Culture Show at UCLA, presented by the university’s Iranian Student Group (ISG). The members of this organiza-tion work hard every year to produce a show that captures the unique Iranian-American cultural experience through plays, music, poetry, and dance.

As a proud sponsor of the 11th Annual Culture Show at UCLA, we applaud the ISG for all their efforts, which continue to inspire young Iranian-Americans year after year.


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Literature

Artwork inspired by:17th century Iran - Manuscript PaintingKing Faridun receives the envoy of his two sons17th century | Opaque watercolor on paper 9 3/4 in. x 5 1/8 in. | (24.77 cm x 13.02 cm) | IranAsian 1971.65Gift of Edwin Binney 3rd

Fereidoun Farahandouz

Explore Farhang An Afternoon with FerdowsiOn a warm Sunday afternoon, we invited our guests to join us at the Radisson Hotel Newport Beach, where we explored the Shahnameh (Book of Kings), the national epic of Iran written by Ferdowsi, one of the greatest Persian poets of all time. Discussions were led by our distinguished speaker and famed Iranian broadcaster, Fereidoun Farahandouz, who offered perspective on the mythical, heroic, and historical facets of the Shahnameh, particularly the role of women in the masterpiece.


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Ongoing & Upcoming

Looking Ahead: Ongoing & Upcoming A Lasting Impact: The Iranian Studies Initiative at USC

Only a few years ago, the University of Southern California, a prestigi-ous university located in a region with one of the largest Iranian populations outside of Iran, was missing an Iranian studies program from its otherwise diverse and enriching curriculum. This is no longer the case.

Farhang Foundation is pleased to announce that as of the Fall 2013 semester, USC will offer a minor degree in Iranian Studies for the first time in school history. The university has also hired its first-ever lecturer of Iranian History and Culture, Professor Hani Khafipour, who has joined the faculty of USC’s Middle East Studies Department to help facilitate the newly established program.

A recent signing ceremony at USC officially marked the launch of the Iranian Studies minor program, a tremendous milestone that could only have been reached through the ongoing support of Farhang’s donor community and USC. The mood of the ceremony was one of excitement, reflecting the cultural and socio-political significance of this initiative.

“Now more than ever, there is an urgent need to help students better understand the forces and transnational issues that shape Iran and its neighbors. Our relationship with Farhang Foundation will advance our effort to help students not only develop skills important in the international market, but help them become more compassionate individuals,” stated Steve Kay, USC Dornsife dean in an article posted on the school’s website.

Farhang Foundation's Iranian Studies Initiative, which kicked-off in 2010, has benefited greatly by engaging Iranian-American communities in Los Angeles and across California to contribute more than $875,000 in support. This endeavor is inspired by the belief that second and third generations of Iranian-Americans, as well as non-Iranians, should have access to a systematic education in Persian language and culture, particularly in Southern California where so many Iranian-Americans reside.

Farhang Foundation plans to continue its efforts at USC in order to develop this program into a full-fledged one that will someday offer students the opportunity to earn a bachelor’s degree in Iranian Studies. Stay tuned for more exciting updates on this groundbreaking program at USC.


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Farhang Sources of Funds

Farhang Sources of Funds 2012-2013

Trustees$525,800

Please consider financially supporting us with a tax-deductible donation at:www.farhang.org/donateAfter all, it is our farhang...

General Public$541,219

Councils$111,800

Total Income$1,178,819

Contributions received within Farhang’s fiscal year of Apr 1, 2012 to March 31, 2013


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Our Team Farhang Councils

Board of TrusteesHormoz AmeriMark AminDar GabbayShazad GhanbariAhmad Gramian - Vice ChairmanDarioush Khaledi Farshad (Fasha) MahjoorRon MavaddatAria MehrabiFarhad Mohit - Vice ChairmanShulamit NazarianAnoosheh M. OskouianHooshang PakAli C. Razi - ChairmanShidan Taslimi

Advisory ComitteeJanet Afary - University of California Santa BarbaraAmin Banani - University of California Los AngelesElizabeth Carter - University of California Los Angeles Touraj Daryaee - University of California Irvine, Academic Coordinator Fereshteh Daftari - Independent Scholar and CuratorLayla Diba - Independent Scholar and CuratorArash Khazeni - Pomona College Linda Komaroff - Los Angeles County Museum of ArtAfshin Matin-Asgari - California State University Los AngelesSheida Mohamadi - Poet-in Residence at Maryland UniversityAli Mousavi - Visiting Professor of Iranian Archaeology, UCLAShirin Neshat - Modern Art Nasrin Rahimieh - University of California Irvine Shardad Rohani - COTA Symphony Orchestra-Los Angeles Kourosh Taghavi - Namâd Ensemble

Management TeamBita Milanian - Executive DirectorHassan Izad - Chief Financial OfficerNiloufar Maghame - Operations ManagerNazbanoo Sedghi - Cyrus Cylinder Project ManagerSanam Zahir - Film Festival Manager Shahram Soleimani - Secretary David. W. Newman - Legal Counsel (Pro Bono)Haydeh Shirmohammadi - Special Projects Director

Our Team

Fine Arts CouncilRoshi Rahnama – ChairAmir AnghaLadan BehniaAzadeh DadgostarShahrzad FarhadiAti FarmaniShazad Ghanbari – TrusteeShahpar KhalediHoma MahmoudiShulamit Nazarian – TrusteeMaryam PakAnousheh RaziMehrzad RoshanKaty Saei

Orange County CouncilMajid Zarrinkelk – ChairShazad Ghanbari – TrusteeGilda Gilak - SecretaryFariba HezarMona KarimpourAssad KazeminySharo KhastooParmis KhatibiTannaz MazareiPedram MizaniAnoosheh M. Oskouian – TrusteeDariush Rachedi

Generations CouncilAmir Hemmat – ChairAli ElahiAli FakhariArash KohantebKamran MirrafatiFarhad Mohit – TrusteeSara PakSheila ParsaNassem Sagati

Patron CouncilAbdi Rais – ChairPouria AbbassiNazfar AfsharFarhad BaharAhmad Gramian – TrusteeSaid JabbariAfshin KatebHadi MorshedAJ Safavi

Iranian Studies CouncilHaleh Emrani – ChairAmir AalamCyrous AdamiMehrdad AmanatAkbar AzadHoushang DadgostarAhmad Gramian – TrusteeHassan Izad – CFORon Mavaddat – TrusteeMichael SaeiSussan SharifianFarrok Yazdi

UCLA CouncilMark Amin – TrusteeFarhad Mohit – TrusteeAli C. Razi – TrusteeShidan Taslimi – Trustee

Farhang Councils


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Patrons & Donors Patrons & Donors

Cyrus Cylinder Tour Leadership Patrons

Diamond Patrons ($20,000+)

Platinum Patrons ($10,000-$19,999)

Gold Patrons ($5,000-$9,999)

Silver Patrons ($2,500-$4,999)

Bronze Patrons ($1,000-$2,499)

Friends of Farhang (below $1,000)

Patrons & Donors

Contributions received within Farhang’s fiscal year of Apr 1, 2012 to March 31, 2013

Satraps ($25,000 and above)Aria Mehrabi, Ph.D. Ali and Anousheh Razi Hormoz and Fariba AmeriThe Jamsheed and Goli Ameri Family FoundationBijan and Soraya Amin FoundationChannel Development, Inc.Commercial Petroleum EquipmentDarioush Winery Napa ValleyDavid and Orna DelrahimFirst Credit BankFasha and Fariba MahjoorFarhad and Nushin MohitYounes and Soraya NazarianPacific Convenience & FuelsPhillips 66Babak RaziMichael and Katy SaeiMehran and Laila TaslimiShidan and Susanne TaslimiThe Tavangarian Family

Ambassadors ($10,000)Wisfe and Jamileh AishFred (Manuchehr) and Firouzeh AmeriAmerican Logistics InternationalAli and Mojgan AminMahmood and Shirin AminReza AminSam and Rene AnabiDariush and Haleh GabbayIsaac and Angela Larian FoundationDavid and Angella Nazarian Sam NazarianShulamit Nazarian and Bruce AdlhochLeon and Firoozeh NemanAlan and Anoosheh OskouianHooshang and Maryam PakUnited Oil CompanyUS Bank, N.A.Parviz and Vida Vazin

MessengersStefan Adelipour for Life FoundationNaz AfsharBabak AgahFarhad and Maryam AmeriDr. Azadeh Ardakani and Arya ArdakaniGideon and Helen AshooriAkbar and Mandana AzadBBCN BankBijan and Shireen BroukhimJo Ellen ChathamVida DarroudiMakan and Michelle DelrahimShiva DelrahimDaniel GabbaySoli and Catherine GabbayNader and Anita GhiamGlobal RX PharmacyDrs. Farhad and Latifeh HagigiF. John Hajaliloo, M.D.Drs. Morgan and Bruce HakimiJimmy and Ricky HorriatMahvash HowellIranian-American Women FoundationKia JamDr. & Mrs. Parviz and Shahla JavdanMona KarimpourAbe and Sholeh KashefiAssad KazeminyWahideh KhaleeliSharo KhastooAdmiral Dr. Houshang KhatibiCouncilmember Paul KoretzHoma MahmoudiChristopher and Ana MartinTannaz Mazarei and Babak AkbariHooman M. MelamedWilliam and Ann Marie MichaelParham MinooDr. Pedram and Jacquelyn MizaniBen and Sheila MoghaddamDr. Bahram Mohit

Joseph and Sharareh MonasebianFarhad and Farzaneh MorshedMehdy and Soheila NamakianSheila Navab KarbassianKamran and Shayesteh NomanPacific Wealth ManagementFarshid Frank PournazarianPremier Staffing Solutions, Inc. Promotion Plus Sign Co., Inc.Dariush and Sarvenaz RachediRamineh, Fani, Nowakhtar & Rashidi, LLPFereshteh RezaeeMassoud and Taraneh ShabahangShahrokh (Shaw) and Shirin Shahery FoundationElias and Shirley ShokrianFarshid and Avid ShooshaniDiba and Aaron ShooshaniSmart Levels MediaArman Torbati and Suzanne KhaliliAli and Guity YeganehKamran and Sabrina YounesiDrs. Ramin and Leila Zabihi

Immortals ($5,000)A&J Environmental Services, Inc.Faryan and Leila AfifiDr. Fereshteh Amin and Dr. Hamid ShafipourKambiz and Lily BabaoffBahar and Arzy FamiliesLadan BehniaNasser and Eliane CohanimPhilip and Josiane CohanimHoushang and Yassaman DadgostarDrs. Hooshang and Fereshteh DalavarianHooman and Tiffany DayaniShahrzad FarhadiMason and Ati FarmaniG&M Oil CompanyRay and Dalia GoelAhmad Gramian and Haleh EmraniMehdi and Shahla HemmatIntratek Computer, Inc. The Jalali FamilyMahmood and Farah JazayeriDr. Afreh KhazaeeBehrouz and Minoo MahboubiYar and Nooshin MeshkatyBijan and Mahnaz NahaiMousa and Fran NamvarManochehr and Mahnaz NazarianParviz and Pouran NazarianNossaman, LLPRoshi Rahnama and Kayhan ShakibNazanin and Shahrokh ShamtobiFrederick and Laurie Samitaur SmithZahra and Hamid TabibzadehDr. Farshid ZanjaniHooman and Tricia Zarrinkelk

The Cyrus Cylinder & Ancient Persia: A New BeginningOct 2 to Dec 2, 2013 | The Getty VillaSponsored by Farhang Foundation

Ahmad Gramian & Haleh Emrani

Wisfe Aish Akbar & Mandana Azad Andrew Tavakoli

Fay Ghassemieh Shahab & Nazila Sadat-Tehrani Hooshang & Elaheh Semnani

Amir & Alina Aalam Cyrous Adami Sam & Rene Anabi

Nooshi AkavanMehrdad & Sholeh AmanatMark AminHooshang & Yassaman DadgostarDavid & Orna DelrahimMorteza EjabatAmir Hemmat

John & Nooshin MalakzadBehrooz MeimandGeorge & Marcella PearsonAli C. & Anousheh RaziTom SaberiMichael & Katy SaeiKouroush & Maryam Sarbaz

Morteza & Sussan SharifianShidan TaslimiFarrok & Mahvash YazdiMajid & Sohaila Zarrinkelk

Masoud AbaeiSahar AghassiFereshteh AminParvin AminShohreh AminLida ArianiAli AzadFirouzeh BankiMozafar BehzadYasaman Cohanim

Shiva DelrahimZarin DelrahimNatasha FischerDariush & Haleh GabbayElias Yassi GabbayMardkhai & Vida Ghiam Afshin GolbarCalvin HedmanFariba HezarMaryam & Roya Horiyat

Akbar JazayeriKamyar & Sima MateenNasser MatloobMehrdad & Farnaz MavadatDavid NahaiArshia NooriJohn & Farifteh ParsaMaryam RakhshaniShirine RezaHamid & Rozita Roknian

Rachel SaidiMithra SheybaniParviz & Mary TaheryAzadeh TadayonFarshid Zanjani


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Special Thanks

Special Thanks

It Is Our Farhang

How You Can Help

Our SponsorsATLAS ME, Inc.BBCN BankBuchalter NemerCasablanca Pro-Sound & LightingCity National BankCommonwealth Business BankDarioush Napa ValleyEast West BankGursey SchneiderHealthEZIntratek Computer, Inc.John & Hilda Arnold Foundation

K.Jam Media, Inc.Italy 2000Maximum Difference FoundationMerrill LynchMeslee Insurance ServicesMitchell, Silberberg & KnuppMorgan Stanley | Smith BarneyMorgan Stanley FoundationNorooz Celebration FoundationParviz & Behrouz Horriat & Atlas ME, Inc.Photo NegahPrimexPRINTUP

Radisson Newport BeachRamineh, Fani, Nowakthar & RashidiRitmo MundoSBESmart Level Mailing and Printing Inc.Soraya JewelsMichael & Mercedes SteadThe Empty VaseTurkish AirlinesUnion BankWells FargoZarrinkelk, Kashefipour & Co.

VolunteersSam AnvãriSusan ArashebenAva ArdalanAli AssadianNasim BolandparvazAfarin DavariNegin ElazariAnjelita FloresLili GhavamiCameron HajialiakbarYasi HaririAni HonarchianDonya HosseinianMelika JahangiriKimia KarianAren KhanbabaeiSabrina LovettPeyman MalazNaz MalektojarCal MargulisSahar MeshkatNahim MizanPaimon MohammadionRoxanne MoinParastoo MoradnooriMichelle QuayAli RazaviGuity RouhaniNeda RouhaniShayan SafarBayan SalehiLaily SharifzadehSahba ShayaniShirin ShirvanifarSharare ShobeirianSonya TamaddonNegar TavasoliSteven TohmasiYasmeen TsipenaLilliana ZarRose Zarghani

Individuals & Organizations670AM KIRN Radio IranBadri AbrishamiBallet AfsanehJahanshah ArdalanGoli AttaieChildren’s HopeDjanbazaian Dance CompanyKaren Drews HanlonChef Jason FulliloveBehrooz GhavamiDr. Latifeh HagigiIranian American Medical AssociationIranian American Society of Engineers and ArchitectsIranian American Women FoundationIranianHotline.comIranshahr Weekly MagazineIRTVIrvine Barclay TheaterIrvine Iranian Parent AssociationJavanan International Weekly MagazineMaz JobraniMojgan KarianHassan KashefipourKetab Corp.

Khayam Persian School FoundationDr. Linda KomaroffLACMA and StaffMashid SohailiMetro Digital Printing & Marketing SolutionsSia Nemat-NasserNetwork of Iranian American Professionals of OCOC MetroOrange County Community FoundationPacific SymphonyShida Pegahi (Pacific Arts Center)Ardeshir RadpourNasrin RahimiehDoug RankinSara RohaniShardad RohaniJilana StewartSoroush FilmNiloufar TalebiThe Audio / Visual Team at LACMAThe California Zorastrian CenterWorld Affairs Council of Orange CountyMaryam Zar

We are always looking to expand the Farhang Foundation family. If you are interested in joining our efforts, here are some of the ways in which you can help: • Donate financially to support our programs • Volunteer your time and talents• Register for free as a Farhang member• Attend our events with friends and family

Visit www.farhang.org to find out more!

Photo Credits: Everlast Photos, Nima Fatemi, Vafa Khatami, Danish Saroee and Alireza Teymouri


P.O. Box 491571Los Angeles, CA 90049

(310) [email protected]

www.farhang.org

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