CULTURE
Youth
Entertainment
The Centre for Media and Film at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London is hosting a conference on 6-7 June for bringing together key figures from the media and film industries in Iran, Afghanistan and Tajikistan, where considerable change and debate about the media and cultural environments are taking place. Despite the fact that the three nations share Persian language and Persianate culture, rarely have their media professionals and filmmakers come together in an international forum to discuss their mutual concerns and future objectives.
The two day conference will hear from some of the top journalists, TV and radio producers, bloggers and film directors about the latest developments. Students and academics will have a chance to discuss the future of the media and film industries in these countries and to debate possible future academic cooperation.
Films
"Calendar of Expectations" will be screened at 18:00 in the Khalili Lecture Theatre on Friday, 6 June with Safarbek Soliev available for questions.
"Opium War" will be screened at 17:00 in the Khalili Lecture Theatre on Saturday, 7 June with Siddiq Barmak available for questions.
"Dayere Zangi" will be screened at 16:00 in the Brunei Gallery Lecture Theatre on Sunday, 8 June with Parisa Bakhtavar available for comments and questions.
The speakers include (further information is listed below):
- the director of Asia Plus news agency in Tajikistan Umed Babakhonov;
- the talented new Iranian film director, Parisa Bakhtavar;
- the editor of "Women’s Mirror", Shokria Barakzai from Afghanistan voted International Editor of the Year 2004 by World Press;
- the prize-winning film director of Afghanistan Siddiq Barmak;
- the editor of Kabul Weekly, Faheem Dashty;
- the distinguished film critique from Iran, Houshang Golmakani,
- as well as the new generation journalists such as Akbar Montajabi and Kasra Nouri and the prize winning Shadi Sadr;
- also coming from Afghanistan, the director of the most successful independent media outlet, Arman Radio and Tolo TV, Saad Mohseni,
- and from Tajikistan the prize winning film director, Safarbek Soliev.
- Other speakers include the well known journalists of Tajikistan, Salimjon Aioubov, Dododjon Atovulloev, Shahlo Akobirova and Dariush Rajabian; and from Afghanistan, Aziz Ahmad Hakimi and Mohamad Shafiq Haqpal.
The Centre for Media and Film Studies at SOAS wishes to facilitate a forum for dialogue and discussion amongst journalists, filmmakers and academics in these countries and their colleagues in Europe, thereby enhancing cooperation and sharing of knowledge. We will explore opportunities to publish appropriate materials and will invite the London-based media to attend the event.
Professor Annabelle Sreberny, FRSA
Director, Centre for Media and Film Studies
All Welcome. The event is free and open to the public.
To book a place contact: Jane Savory, js64@soas.ac.uk, 020 7898 4892
Enquiries about the conference: Dr Massoumeh Torfeh,