4th Ceremony of Annual Samandarian Academy

The annual ceremony praised Amir-Reza Kouhestani, noted director, while giving Mr Rafiei its special emblem.

Theater, cinema, music and visual arts artists attended in the gathering, which was held on Friday, irantheater.ir reported.

The award was given by Ebrahim Haghighi and Bahman Farmanara to Mr Rafiei.

Mr Haghighi shortly talked about the late Iranian theater director Hamid Samandarian and his wife Homa Roosta, the well-known actress who passed away recently. Mr Farmanara also reminded of his long friendship with Mr Rafiei.

"I usually do not attend such ceremonies for personal reasons. I am proudly taking part in this ceremony when I was told it is going to pay a tribute to Ali Rafiei," Mr Farmanara said.

Rafiei also said that his acquaintance with Hamid Samandarian spans five decades. "When I returned Iran I became familiar with my best career friend who had always supported me. I have always been proud of being a friend of Samandarian."

The noted theater artist said that he was supposed to cooperate with Mr Samadarian once in his "Galileo" piece as set designer. "Galileo" had never given permission to be performed, he regretted. "I will always remember this night who I have received this award while paying tribute to the memory of dear Homa [Roosta]."

Meanwhile, the academy awarded the young theater director Amir Reza Kouhestani for his international successes. Hassan Majouni, the noted actor, received the award on behalf of Mr Kouhestani as the director is performing a piece abroad.

Ehteram Boroumand, Leili Rashidi, Mohammad Rahmanian, Yaghma Golrouei, Babak Chamanara, Maryam Motaref, Hamid Pourazari, Ali Asghar Dashti, Roya Taymourian, Mohammad Ali Sajjadi, Homayoon Ghanizadeh, Setareh Pesiani, Saeed Zehni, Babak Chamanara, Reza Molaei attended the ceremony while the attendees stood up from their seats to commemorate the late theater figure, Davoud Rashidi clapping to pay respect to his wife Ehteram Boroumand and his daughter Leili Rashidi.

Kaveh Samandarian read out a speech, which was written by his late mother Homa Roosta, to welcome the participants.