AGP Executive Report

Film Honors: Iranian director Ali Asgari’s A Little Light won the Bronze Star for Best Feature Film at Egypt’s El Gouna Film Festival. Street Art: A Tehran installation puts a Trump lookalike behind bars, with images recalling a deadly strike on a wedding flashing behind him. Music and Rights: An Iranian court upheld a 74-lash sentence for a singer who performed without hijab, renewing concerns over the risks artists face for public performances.

Visual Art: A provocative Tehran installation puts a Trump lookalike behind bars, drawing crowds who shout orders at the figure as tensions with the U.S. rise. Music and Censorship: An Iranian court upheld a 74-lash sentence against a popular female singer who performed without a hijab, underscoring the risks facing artists who defy restrictions. Cinema: Iranian film Midday Meal won the top prize at a major Asian film festival.

Public Art: Tehran’s latest political spectacle puts a life-size Trump impersonator in a suspended jail cell above Tajrish Square, where passers-by have stopped to jeer, take selfies and even offer bail. Authorities say the installation invokes Iran’s demand for justice over the war. Artists Under Pressure: Iran’s court upheld a 74-lash sentence for a popular female singer who performed without hijab. Music in Wartime: Iranian musicians are also turning to music for hope and healing amid the conflict.

Public Art: A Tehran installation depicting Donald Trump behind bars is drawing attention as a sharp piece of political satire. Iranian Cinema: “Midday Meal” took the top prize at Asia’s biggest film festival, giving Iranian filmmakers a notable international win. Music and Resilience: Iranian musicians are finding hope and healing through music amid wartime pressures.

Public Art: Tehran’s latest propaganda installation puts a Trump look-alike in a suspended jail cell in Tajrish Square, where passersby have stopped to take selfies and voice their anger. Film: Iran’s Midday Meal took the top prize at a major Asian film festival. Music: Iranian musicians are finding hope and healing through music amid the war.

Live Music: Iranian performer Darvishi is set to appear at SoFar Sounds in Los Angeles, bringing an Iranian act to the intimate live-music series. Street Art: A Tehran performer has depicted Donald Trump behind bars in an installation carrying the slogan, “It is a crime not to see this scene.” Film: Iran’s “Midday Meal” won the top prize at Asia’s biggest film festival, a notable international accolade for Iranian cinema.

Iranian Cinema: “Midday Meal” took the top prize at Asia’s biggest film festival, and an Iranian war thriller screened at a festival in Tajikistan. Music: Iranian musicians are finding hope and healing through music amid the war, while one popular band refused to perform after authorities barred its female member from the stage.

Theater: Pulitzer-winning Iranian American playwright Sanaz Toossi spoke with Kean University students about identity, language and the experiences behind her play English, which follows Iranian adults learning English near Tehran. Film: Iran’s Midday Meal won the top prize at Asia’s biggest film festival. Music: An Iranian band refused to perform after authorities barred its female member from the stage, while other musicians are finding hope and healing through music amid the war. Regional Cinema: A Uzbek-Tajik film about Persian poets Jami and Navoi won an award.

Music: Iranian musicians are finding hope and healing through music amid the war. A popular band, meanwhile, refused to perform after authorities barred its female member from the stage. Cinema: Iranian film Midday Meal won top honors at the 31st BIFF, while Iranian Film Days opened in Dushanbe as part of the Toji Somon Film Awards. Culture: Iran’s Kurdistan is seeking to establish a foundation for the Kurdish language, another effort to preserve and promote local culture.

Music: Iranian musicians are finding hope and healing through music amid the war. A popular band also refused to perform after authorities barred its female member from the stage. This week’s new-music picks include Iranian electronic artist Nesa Azadikhah. Film: Iranian drama Midday Meal won the top prize at the Busan International Film Festival, while an Iranian war thriller screened at a festival in Tajikistan.

Music: Iranian musicians are turning to music for hope and healing amid the war. Live Performance: A popular Iranian band refused to play after authorities barred its female member from taking the stage. Film: Iranian drama Midday Meal won the top prize at the Busan International Film Festival, putting it in contention for Oscar consideration. Women’s Football: Iran’s league has barred all men—including journalists and coaches—from women’s matches, ahead of the first Tehran derby between Esteghlal and Persepolis.

Cinema: Iranian Film Days opened in Dushanbe alongside the Toji Somon Film Awards, while Iranian drama Midday Meal won top honors at Busan’s 31st festival, qualifying for Oscar consideration. Language & Heritage: Kurdistan’s governor urged officials to approve a Kurdish Language and Literature Foundation, a proposal still awaiting authorization. Music & Censorship: A popular Iranian band refused to perform after authorities barred its female member from the stage. Artist Jîna Ehmedî has reportedly been missing from public view for 10 days since her arrest.

Regional Film Funding: The Kurdistan Film Commission is promoting a $2 million annual fund at Cairo’s CineGouna to draw international productions to Iraqi Kurdistan. Iranian Cinema: “Midday Meal” won top honors at the 31st BIFF, while Iranian Film Days opened in Dushanbe as part of the Toji Somon Film Awards. Music and Censorship: A popular Iranian band refused to perform after authorities barred its female member from the stage; the Pallett Band also cancelled its Iran tour over the restriction. Artists Under Pressure: No news has emerged for 10 days about artist Jîna Ehmedî, arrested in Iran.

Music and Censorship: A popular Iranian band refused to perform after authorities barred its female member from the stage, highlighting continuing restrictions on women in music. Film: Iranian cinema drew international attention, with Midday Meal winning top honors at the 31st BIFF and Iranian Film Days opening in Dushanbe. A secretly shot film about Iran’s arts scene is also heading to a UK festival. Artists at Risk: There has been no news for 10 days of Iranian artist Jîna Ehmedî, who was arrested in Iran. Global Reach: An Iranian artist’s work reimagining Brighton’s architecture offers another glimpse of the country’s creative voices abroad.

Film: An Iranian war thriller screened at a festival in Tajikistan, while Iranian Film Days opened in Dushanbe. Iranian drama Midday Meal also won the top prize at the Busan International Film Festival, earning Oscar consideration. Music and Censorship: An Iranian band refused to perform after authorities barred its female member from the stage. Earlier, Pallett cancelled its Iran tour over the ban on a female musician. Independent Cinema: A film made in secret about Iran’s arts scene is heading to a UK festival; filmmaker Mohsen Amiryousefi’s film about banned movies is also set for a London screening, despite his being denied a UK visa.

Iranian Film Abroad: Mohsen Bahari’s thriller The Gambler, set during the 2025 Iran-Israel war, is screening at Tajikistan’s Toji Somon festival, where Iranian films are also being presented as part of cultural cooperation. Music and Censorship: A popular Iranian band refused to perform after authorities barred its female member from the stage. Film Honors: Iranian drama Midday Meal won the top prize at the Busan International Film Festival, earning Oscar consideration. Artists Under Pressure: Ten days after artist Jîna Ehmedî was arrested in Iran, there is still no public news about her.