34th Fajr International Film Festival

The 34th Fajr International Film Festival is set to begin today in Tehran, under the supervision of Reza Mirkarimi, renowned Iranian film writer and director. The event will last until the 25th of April. This annual event succeeded to secure for itself, thanks to the success of past editions, an important place in the world cultural map, achieving a leading role in shaping cinematic tradition in the Middle East and south-western Asia.

A total of 15 films, 12 being foreign, will compete for the festival's most sought after awards, Best Film, Best Screenplay, Best Director, Best Actor and Actress, and the Special Award. The foreign films are:
1944 (Elmo Nuganen ; Estonia / Finland)
Amama, When a Tree Falls (Asier Altuna ; Spain)
El Clasico (Halkawt Mustafa ; Iraq)
Walking Distance (Alejandro Guzman Alvarez ; Mexico)
Frenzy (Emin Alper ;Turkey)
Dawn (Laila Lakalnina ; Estonia / Poland / Lithuania)
Song of Songs (Eva Neymann ; Ukraine)
Rams (Grimur Hakonarson ; Ireland / Denmark / Norway / Poland)
The Treasure (Corneliu Porumboiu ; Romania / France)
Guarani (Paraguay, Argentina)
Norfolk (Martin Radich ; United Kingdom)
I’m a Teacher (Russia)

Charlie Hebdo

Before the incident, I must confess, I had no idea about this Charlie Hebdo and surely would have remained ignorant in this regard for years to come. As for most all over the world, I too became a victim of mass-media's machine gun approach towards the event. Stories upon stories with interviews and documentaries about this and that, trying to make martyrs of the victims, martyrs of freedom of expression.

The truth is far more different than that. Charlie Hebdo is not a symbol of freedom but a statement of the blind. The blinded hearts and minds who seem to gain louder voices as time passes. This age is surely one of intolerance and injustice but when you see the distorted views that abound on the Internet and in the media, who can not wonder where is it all heading. What this publication stands for reminds me of similar ones from the inter-war period.

I also condemn the killings, they do no justice to Islam or any other religion. One can not attack ignorance with ignorance, we must exercise our patience and have faith in God for only he knows the true purpose of things. All those who act out of pride and hate will find their downfall in them.

Bringing Christianity together

On December 1st, Pope Francis met with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I in Istanbul and apparently the Pope bowed down to the Patriarch in order to receive his blessing. This moment impresses me with its symbolism and humility but it might signal, above all, a turning point in the evolution of the Christian religion. The Pope himself said that the Orthodox and Catholic Churches will not submit to nor assimilate the other and will, instead, work towards the restoration of full Communion. A meeting with the Russian Church Patriarch Kirill was also mentioned however its planning has yet to begin.