Kianoush Ayyari diagnosed with COVID-19

Prominent Iranian director Kianoush Ayyari has been hospitalized with the new coronavirus.

Ayyari contracted the COVID-19 while he was working on his latest series ’87 Meters’, which is undergoing the post-production stage.

Shabnam Arafinejad, the assistant director of ’87 Meters’, told media on Wednesday that Ayyari contracted the virus about a week ago, but has been hospitalized in Nikan hospital in Tehran since Tuesday.

The filming of the series wrapped up about three months ago and its broadcast is scheduled for next June.

Ayyari was born in Iran’s southwestern city of Ahvaz in 1951.

He has directed the series ‘A Thousand of Eyes’ and ‘Gharib's World’, which were aired by ifilm English TV Channel.

The veteran filmmaker has also made a number of movies, including ‘The Glorious Day’, ‘Two Halves of the Apple’, ‘To Be or Not to Be’, and ‘Wake Up Arezou’.

Ayyari’s films, including ‘To Be or Not to Be’ and ‘Wake Up, Arezou’, have grabbed several awards at film festivals in Iran and abroad.

‘To Be or Not to Be’ received an award at the Cairo International Film Festival in Egypt, while ‘Wake Up, Arezou’ was awarded at the Fajr Film Festival in Iran.

SQ/MG