Hawzah News Agency (Tehran, Iran) – Here are some excerpts of Ayatollah Khamenei’s remarks on Hollywood and Oscars:

There are interesting ideas in the Islamic Republic of Iran that would be loved by various nations, and these ideas can be realized through short or long movie scripts presented in an artistic manner. Such artistic works would certainly be great ones, but they would never win Oscar or Noble prize, because today the international schemes that back the arts have been exposed to the world.

One of the issues being falsely propagated throughout the world is that they say arts should not be mixed with politics, while western art organizations, including Hollywood, are completely political. If it wasn’t like that, why would they prevent Iran’s anti-Zionist movies from competing in cinematic festivals? Producing political anti-Iran movies and giving prizes to anti-Iran movies are clear indications of politics and arts being coupled in the United States and in the west.

“Most of the cinematic companies and institutes in Hollywood are manifestations of a coherent political will that controls behind the scenes of U.S. politics; in some cases, their control is even beyond the administrations. “

There are interesting ideas in the Islamic Republic of Iran that would be loved by various nations, and these ideas can be realized through short or long movie scripts presented in an artistic manner. Such artistic works would certainly be great ones, but they would never win Oscar or Noble prize, because today the international schemes that back the arts have been exposed to the world. Artistic methods should be adopted, and efforts should be made to create artistic works based on truth: this cannot be achieved except with the endeavor of dedicated and faithful young people. November 30, 2009

The art of cinema is undoubtedly an exalted art, a very competent narrator - indeed no narrator among the different artistic methods of narrating a fact and reality has so far been so efficient - and an intricate and advanced and sublime art. You have access to this window, namely the window of cinema on knowledge, and the light that comes in through this window. This window is at your disposal.

The significance of this art also increases your responsibility. What I would like to stress is that you are entrusted with a heavy responsibility. As some of the friends pointed out, nobody has ordered you to become directors or, in general, cinematic figures. It has been your own interest and talent and enthusiasm that have prompted you to enter this arena. But now that you have entered this field, you are expected to face up to your responsibility. You can be highly influential.

Look! I may address a clergyman or a preacher or a writer of religious books - who is also a narrator of facts and knowledge - and tell him to watch the content of his remarks or the words that he chooses, since if his words and remarks cause a youngster to lose his religious belief or misunderstand a religious fact, that clergyman or preacher or writer would be responsible before Almighty Allah.

Now what I would like to tell you, the dear brothers and sisters, is that considering this very effective artistic tool that is at your disposal, your influence is many times as much as the influence of that clergyman or preacher or writer. If I say that your influence is 10 times as much, it is surely more. Therefore, you can see that there is a great difference between the influence of a well-produced motion picture and the influence of the pulpit!

You are able to promote morality. The opposite is also possible. You are capable of imbuing the young generation with patience and perseverance, hopes and enthusiasm, motivation, honesty and integrity and all the qualities that an advanced society needs. It is also possible to infuse them with despair and disappointment instead of hopefulness and with stagnation rather than dynamism and vitality. Jun 13, 2006

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