Pioneers of revolutionary art recognized in 2024

The selection committee for the Islamic Revolutionary Artist of the Year has announced the 15 finalists for 2024 (1403 in the Iranian calendar).

These prominent figures have been recognized for their impactful contributions across various fields of art, reflecting the values and spirit of the Islamic Revolution.

The 15 recognized artists, listed in alphabetical order, are:

• Seyyed-Ehsan Baqeri (Photographer): Honored for his powerful staged photography, including the acclaimed piece ‘The Heirs’, which captures the resilience of the Palestinian people.
• Hossein Parsaee (Theater Director): Recognized for his large-scale production ‘The Battle of Rostam and Sohrab’, blending deep national themes with exceptional stagecraft.
• Kheirollah Taqianipour (Film & Theater Director): Celebrated for his film ‘The Heart of Raqqa’, portraying the dramatic presence of resistance fighters in the battle against extremist groups.
• Golestan Jafarian (Author): Acknowledged for her book ‘Autumn Has Come’, which was highlighted by Ayatollah Seyyed-Ali Khamenei and reprinted 135 times due to high public demand.
• Mohammad Hamzehzadeh (Author): Recognized for his book series ‘Tales of Delestan and Golestan’, continuing Iran’s rich storytelling tradition and connecting with readers.
• Mohammad-Reza Doust-Mohammadi (Graphic Artist): Honored for his portraits of martyred resistance commanders and his active mentorship of young artists in the field of resistance art.
• Vahhab Ramzi (Photographer): Commended for his photo exhibition ‘Keys Older than Israel’, which offered a new perspective and drew strong interest from the art community.
• Mahboubeh-Sadat Razavinia (Author): Celebrated for her acclaimed book ‘Ayda’, which opened new narrative pathways in borderless resistance literature.
• Mohammad Rasouli (Poet): Recognized for his timely poetry during the Al-Aqsa Storm operation, bringing verse into the heart of critical moments on the resistance front.
• Milad Erfanpour (Poet): Praised for his impactful poetic responses to major events of the past year and for mentoring emerging poets to elevate the quality of contemporary verse.
• Reza Keshavarz Haddad (Film Director): Honored for directing ‘Kianoush's Garden’, a film that revived the nostalgic essence of youth cinema through powerful literary adaptation.
• Sajjad Mehregan (Film Director): Celebrated for the hit television series ‘Mr. Judge’, which brought a fresh narrative approach to the screen and became the most-watched series of 2024.
• Seyyed Mohammad-Reza Miri (Painter & Graphic Artist): Acknowledged for his painting ‘Nasrallah's Dream’ and his broad contributions to the visual arts promoting resistance culture.
• Mohammad-Hossein Niroumand (Cartoonist): Recognized for his anti-Zionist artworks and his efforts in mentoring the next generation of political cartoonists.
• Karen Homayounfar (Composer): Honored for his album ‘Seyyed al-Ummah’, a musical tribute to martyr Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah, now considered an enduring anthem of the resistance.

Following a review of each candidate’s work and achievements, five finalists will be shortlisted in upcoming selection sessions.

The ultimate winner will be chosen through consultations with experts and elites in revolutionary art and announced at the closing ceremony of Islamic Revolutionary Art Week to be held on April 16.