Farhang Foundation is proud to join forces with the prestigious Vancouver Symphony Orchestra in presenting an extraordinary evening with the internationally acclaimed kamancheh virtuoso master Kayhan Kalhor, performing live with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and conductor Trevor Wilson on June 3 at the majestic Orpheum Theater in Vancouver.
A master of his craft and a global ambassador of Iranian music, Master Kalhor brings his deeply expressive sound to the symphonic stage in a rare and powerful collaboration. This special performance weaves together rich musical traditions with the grandeur of a full orchestra, offering a moving and unforgettable experience.
Join us for a night where cultures, and melodies converge.
Tickets and more info at Farhang.org/VSO or via link in bio.
Farhang Foundation is proud to be the exclusive Cultural Partner and sponsor of this concert event.
#KayhanKalhor #VancouverSymphony #FarhangFoundation #LiveMusic #Vancouver
We proudly present LIGHT ALWAYS PREVAILS, the Bay Area debut of Maestro Shardad Rohani’s Roudaki Orchestra on May 31 at the Dinkelspiel Auditorium, Stanford University in Palo Alto. Tickets & more info via Farhang.org/Roudaki or link in bio.
An evening to bring the community together for unity and beautiful music by Iranian composers and musicians.
Comprised of forty exceptional musicians under the direction of Maestro Rohani, the Roudaki Orchestra brings together extraordinary talent to showcase the richness and evolution of Iranian musical traditions.
This special performance is presented in collaboration with the Stanford Hamid and Christina Moghadam Program in Iranian Studies.
“As the founder and artistic director, it is my great pleasure to introduce the newly formed Roudaki Orchestra to the Bay Area.
Named after the renowned ninth-century Iranian poet, singer, and musician Roudaki, celebrated as the ‘father of Persian poetry’ the orchestra honors his legacy and the cultural heritage he represents. The name also evokes the splendid Roudaki Hall… which brought classical music to Iran on a stage comparable to the great venues of Europe and the world.
My vision for the Roudaki Orchestra is to uplift the rich musical traditions of Iran by performing works from both past and contemporary Iranian composers. Additionally, we aim to educate and inspire a new generation of musicians…
As we say in our beautiful language:
برگ سبزیست تحفه درویش
(A green leaf is a humble gift).”
— Shardad Rohani
Join us for an unforgettable evening of music!
#FarhangFoundation #RoudakiOrchestra #ShardadRohani #StanfordUniversity #IranianMusic
Internationally acclaimed kamancheh virtuoso @kayhan_kalhor joins the VSO for one unforgettable evening on June 3. Kayhan is instrumental in popularizing Persian music across the globe and will perform two of his original works.
Thank you to our Exclusive Cultural Partner @farhangfoundation
Additional Support from the Mowafaghian Foundation
And to our Media Sponsor @aleph.magazine
PARISSA “Pir-E Farzaneh” Exclusive Live Performance at Royce Hall - For Farhang Performances. Farhang Foundation proudly presents an extraordinary live performance of “Pir-E Farzaneh” by the legendary Maestra Parissa, accompanied by the Iranshahr Orchestra under the direction of Maestro Shahab Paranj.
Widely regarded as the Grande Dame of Iranian classical music, Parissa is one of the most influential and revered vocalists in the history of Iranian traditional music. A master of the Avaz vocal tradition, she rose to prominence in Iran during the golden era of Iranian classical music through her profound interpretations, unmatched vocal mastery, and deeply spiritual style. Parissa has helped preserve and elevate Iran’s classical musical heritage for generations to come.
Following the 1979 Revolution in Iran, women were prohibited from singing publicly before mixed audiences, effectively silencing one of Iran’s greatest living artists inside her own homeland. For more than 47 years, Parissa has endured this ban while continuing to inspire audiences around the world through rare international appearances and recordings. Each live performance outside Iran has therefore become not only an artistic event, but also a profound act of cultural preservation and resilience.
“Pir-e Farzaneh”
Composed by Master Hossein Alizadeh
Lyrics by Hafez
Music Director & Conductor: Maestro Shahab Paranj
Performed by the Iranshahr Orchestra
Directed by Arash Rod
Joining Parissa is the acclaimed Iranshahr Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Shahab Paranj — award-winning Iranian-American composer, conductor, educator, and virtuoso tombak player. Known for his innovative ability to bridge Iranian musical traditions with contemporary orchestral language, Paranj has emerged as one of the leading voices of his generation, creating works that unite Iranian musical heritage with global symphonic expression.
Recorded live at UCLA’s majestic Royce Hall on March 8, 2026 as part of the LIGHT ALWAYS PREVAILS concert honoring the enduring voices of Iranians.
Farhang Foundation and Parasol Unit Foundation for Contemporary Art proudly present TURANDOT: TO THE DAUGHTERS OF THE EAST — a major exhibition during the 2026 Venice Biennale at the historic Palazzo Cavalli-Franchetti, on view May 9 – October 31, 2026.
Featuring works by 11 incredible women including
Afruz Amighi
Farideh Lashai
Tala Madani
alongside
Linda Abdul
Huma Bhabha
Hera Büyüktaşçıyan
Mona Hatoum
Saodat Ismailova
Madina Joldybek
Nazira Karimi
Daria Kim
Learn more by visiting Farhang.org/Turandot
Curated by Dr. Ziba Ardalan, Founder and Director of Parasol Unit Foundation for Contemporary Art, the exhibition brings together both new and iconic works spanning video, installation, sculpture, painting, spoken word, textile, and sound.
Inspired by one of the most enigmatic figures in mythology, literature, and opera, TURANDOT reflects on centuries of cultural exchange and reinterpretation through the voices of eleven extraordinary women artists whose works engage deeply with themes of existence, myth, history, identity, and global concerns.
Together, these artists honor the voice of TURANDOT as remarkable, intelligent, and confident women.
#Turandot #VeniceBiennale #BiennaleArte2026 #FarhangFoundation #ParasolUnit
A master of musical storytelling, Kayhan Kalhor brings the soul of the kamancheh to the symphonic stage in an unforgettable evening of sound and emotion.
Join us on June 3 for ANCIENT SOUND, TIMELESS VOICE as the legendary Kayhan Kalhor performs live with the prestigious Vancouver Symphony Orchestra in a rare and powerful collaboration at the majestic Orpheum Theater of Vancouver.
Experience a night where timeless tradition meets orchestral grandeur.
Tickets and more information at Farhang.org/VSO or via link in bio.
#KayhanKalhor #VancouverSymphony #FarhangFoundation #LiveMusic #Concert
Experience the world premiere of “Crack of Dawn” (شبگیر) by acclaimed Iranian classical vocalist Bahar Movahed, performing with the Ghamar Ensemble. Composed by Navid Dehghan with lyrics by Houshang Ebtehaj and directed by Niloofar Zabihi.
Proudly presented as part of Farhang Foundation’s Farhang Performances series.
“Crack of Dawn” carries more than a personal story; it reflects the story of our people and our country. The light does not fade; it is carried, even across distance. And just as dawn follows the longest night, there remains a quiet belief that Iran, too, will see its light return.
— Bahar Movahed
Drawn from her highly anticipated 2026 album Together Yet Alone, “Crack of Dawn” is a powerful and evocative piece that reflects themes of resilience, longing, and hope—echoing the emotional landscape of the Iranian diaspora and the enduring spirit of a people connected across distance.
This visually stunning music video interpreted through the artistic vision of its director—offers a unique cinematic dimension to Movahed’s deeply expressive vocal performance.
Bahar Movahed, an Iranian-born vocalist now based in California, is celebrated for her mastery of Iranian classical music and her dedication to preserving and elevating this rich musical tradition for global audiences.
The piece is composed by Navid Dehghan, an acclaimed Iranian composer and kamancheh virtuoso known for his contributions to contemporary Iranian classical music. At the age of twenty-three Navid founded the Ghamar Ensemble which has since become one of Iran’s most respected Iranian classical ensembles globally.
The album TOGETHER YET ALONE is now available on Apple Music and Spotify.
About Farhang Performances
Farhang Foundation’s Farhang Performances series showcases exceptional artists and celebrates the richness of Iranian arts and culture through virtual performances.
🔔 Subscribe for more world premieres and performances by visiting Farhang.org
🌐 Watch all our current episodes of Farhang Performances by visiting Farhang.org/Performances
#FarhangPerformances #IranianMusic #BaharMovahed #FarhangFoundation
Farhang Foundation Pauses 2026 Short Film Festival, Commits to Doubling Prizes for 2027 Competition!
It is with deep regret and heavy hearts that Farhang Foundation announces a pause to the 2026 Farhang Foundation Short Film Festival competition.
At this moment, Iranians are facing extraordinary and deeply troubling circumstances, including an unprecedented and prolonged internet blackout that has severely limited communication and access to the outside world. Given that a significant number of our participants are based in Iran, Farhang Foundation believes it would be neither fair nor just to move forward with this year’s competition without ensuring that these filmmakers have an equal opportunity to participate.
Read the full press release above.
بنیاد فرهنگ جشنواره فیلم کوتاه ۲۰۲۶ را متوقف میکند و متعهد میشود جوایز مسابقه ۲۰۲۷ را دو برابر کند
با نهایت تأسف و اندوه عمیق، بنیاد فرهنگ اعلام میکند که برگزاری مسابقه جشنواره فیلم کوتاه بنیاد فرهنگ در سال ۲۰۲۶ به حالت تعلیق درمیآید
در حال حاضر، ایرانیان با شرایطی بیسابقه و نگرانکننده مواجه هستند، از جمله قطع گسترده و طولانیمدت اینترنت که بهشدت ارتباطات و دسترسی به جهان خارج را محدود کرده است. با توجه به اینکه تعداد قابل توجهی از شرکتکنندگان ما در ایران مستقر هستند، بنیاد فرهنگ بر این باور است که ادامه برگزاری مسابقه امسال، بدون اطمینان از فراهم بودن فرصت برابر برای این فیلمسازان، نه منصفانه خواهد بود و نه عادلانه
Announcing Manoucher Yektai: The Stranger and the Tree at ICA MIAMI
On view April 30 – November 22, this landmark exhibition marks the first solo museum presentation in the U.S. of pioneering Iranian-born, New York School artist Manoucher Yektai.
Bringing together nearly 30 paintings from 1948–1963, the exhibition traces Yektai’s evolution from early surrealist-inflected abstraction to his signature gestural style, where thick, expressive brushstrokes transform still life, landscape, and portrait into richly textured, almost sculptural forms.
Rooted in a deeply personal visual language, Yektai’s work draws on Iranian rugs, Iranian flora, calligraphy, and mystical poetry, fusing Iranian and American traditions into a uniquely transnational vision of abstract expressionism.
Don’t miss this powerful exploration of an artist who redefined the boundaries between abstraction and representation.
Exhibtion curated by @donna_honarpisheh
📍 ICA Miami, Florida
🗓 April 30 – November 22
More info at Farhang.org/Yektai via link in bio.
#MiamiArt #FarhangFoundation #ManoucherYektai
Farhang Foundation returned to the L.A. Times Festival of Books at USC with its annual IRAN THROUGH BOOKS presentation, celebrating the richness of Iranian literature, culture, and storytelling.
Held at America’s largest annual book festival, this free, two-day event welcomed thousands of visitors to explore books about Iran and by Iranian authors. In this recap, experience highlights from our booth and the vibrant community that gathered around literature, dialogue, and cultural exchange.
Throughout the weekend, we were honored to host esteemed guest authors: Rashin Kheiriyeh, Ciruce Movahedi-Lankarani, Abdi Nazemian, Banafsheh Sayyad, and Sholeh Wolpé.
From timeless classics to contemporary voices, IRAN THROUGH BOOKS continues to showcase the depth and diversity of Iranian literature on one of the nation’s most celebrated literary stages.
Subscribe to Farhang Foundation for more programs celebrating Iranian art and culture. Visit us at for more info on all our programs and events.
The unforgettable Los Angeles premiere of ENGLISH, the Pulitzer Prize–winning and 5-time Tony Award–nominated play by acclaimed playwright Sanaz Toossi opened on April 11 at the prestigious Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills, this powerful production has been met with a tremendous reception by Angelenos, resonating deeply with audiences through its moving exploration of language, identity, and human connection.
Now running through April 26, ENGLISH offers a rare opportunity to witness one of the most celebrated plays of our time on the West Coast.
🎟 Tickets and more information: Farhang.org/English or via link in bio.
Farhang Foundation is extremly proud to be the official Cultural Partner and sponsor of English at THE WALLIS.
Report shot and produced by @arashr0d
#thewallis #farhangfoundation #beverlyhills #sanaztoossi #theater
Farhang Foundation is proud to announce our new partnership with the prestigious San Francisco International Film Festival, expanding our commitment to bringing exceptional Iranian cinema to new audiences.
Join us for the San Francisco premiere of Inside Amir, a powerful and deeply moving film by acclaimed director Amir Azizi.
🗓 Saturday, May 2, 2026
🕗 8:00 PM
📍 Marina Theater, San Francisco
🎟️ Tickets & more info at Farhang.org/SFFF
Following its award-winning premiere at the Venice International Film Festival, Inside Amir offers an intimate portrait of a man navigating love, identity, and the emotional weight of transition between worlds.
Starring: Amirhossein Hosseini, Nader Pourmahin, Nariman Farrokhi, Hadis Nazari, Pirouz Nemati, Sohrab Mahdavi, Elham Azizi, Sajjad Hamidian, Delaram Kamareh.
#
#FarhangFoundation #InsideAmir #SFFilmFestival #IranianCinema
