FESTIVAL BEVERLY HILLS - 2024
Farhang Foundation was incredibly proud to join forces with the City of Beverly Hills to present Iranian music, culture, and cuisine at the largest free summer festival in Beverly Hills. FESTIVAL BEVERLY HILLS is a free, globally inspired art and performance festival held at the iconic Beverly Gardens Park in the heart of Beverly Hills. This summertime celebration showcases over thirteen diverse cultures from around the globe, and Farhang Foundation was honored to curate, support, and present the Iranian artists and performers featured at this year's festival. This year's incredible lineup included: THE KOOBAN ENSEMBLE The Kooban Ensemble was formed in 2000 under the leadership of Vandad Massahzadeh. The ensemble focuses on mystical and folkloric Iranian music and has performed over 500 concerts worldwide. The Kooban Ensemble has played a significant role in presenting and promoting Iranian culture and art, with their current program featuring music from various regions of Iran, including Azerbaijan, Kurdistan, Khorasan, Gilan, Shiraz, and Tehran. NEGAR ESTAKHR Negar Estakhr received her Master’s degree in dramatic literature from the Faculty of Fine Arts at Tehran University and began her career as a puppet master and television personality. Over the years, her puppet, Senjed, became one of the most famous television characters in Iran. Negar has produced many children’s programs and developed puppet shows for international television networks in Malaysia, Bhutan, and Kyrgyzstan. She is also well known for voicing the popular character Dokhtareh Hamsayeh on the famed Kolah Ghermezi show. Negar has worked as an art director in both television and film with leading Iranian directors, including Asghar Farhadi, Saman Moghadam, Homayoun Assadian, Iraj Ghaderi, and Fereydoun Jeyrani. MARYAM RASEKH Maryam Rasekh is a multifaceted artist with a diverse educational background. After graduating from Iran with a degree in directing, theater, and film, she pursued further education in America, focusing on fashion design. Based in Los Angeles, Maryam's expertise spans acting, directing, costume design, and fashion. She has been involved in several theatrical projects as a main actress, director, and playwright. CHEF MOJDEH EGHBAL & NOUSH CUISINE Chef Mojdeh Eghbal began her culinary journey by immigrating to the U.S. in 2004, driven by a passion for the culinary arts. She honed her skills in various restaurants, becoming a wine connoisseur and mastering cooking techniques and wine pairing. Chef Mojdeh has catered diverse events, from intimate dinners to grand celebrity celebrations at renowned museums like The Getty Villa. Her unique designs and exquisite menus leave an unforgettable impression. Rooted in authentic recipes from her mother and grandmother, Chef Mojdeh's cooking preserves Iranian flavors while adding her unique touch, taking diners on a culinary voyage.
Photography by Vafa Khatami
