Persian News: Iranian Book Illustrators Win UNESCO Awards

December 3, 2008

by Suzan Abrams

Iran's artists which include Fereshteh Najafi, Leila Fathizadeh, Parisa Arta, Azita Arta, Maryam Molaii and Rashin Kheyrieh among others, have just won several prizes at the 16th Noma Concours for Picture Book Illustrations that was organized by the Asia/Pacific Cultural Center for UNESCO (ACCU) in Tokyo.

The International Judging Panel was made up of well-known picture book editors and illustrators from different countries.

Winning Titles:

Fereshteh Najafi Second Prize - The Princess,
Leila Fathizadeh - Yusuf and Zulaikha,
Parastu Khodaparast Haqi - Boots,
Parisa Arta - The Spelled City and
Saba Masumian - Wolves and Humans
(among the runners-up).

Encouragement Prizes:

Alireza Joday - Zahhak,
Atefeh Malekiju - The Singer Wolf,
Azita Arta - The Princess who Liked to Eat Apples,
Hoda Haddadi - Sara, Apple Jam and River,
Maryam Molaii - I Received Your Letter Right Now,
Narges Mohammadi - The Hero’s Trick and
Rashin Kheyrieh - The Disloyal Friend

The winning entries will be exhibited in Tokyo next year and also at the Biennale of Illustrations Bratislva (BIB) in Slovakia.