TEHRAN -- The 8th Women’s Theater Festival concluded in Tehran on Saturday evening, bringing Bita Elahian the Best Director Award for the play “Crimes of a Heart”.

Festival organizers paid tribute to three veteran actresses. Shamsi Fazlollahi, Mehri Vedadian and Azita Lachini were honored and received lifetime achievement awards at the closing ceremony.
The closing ceremony continued with a short speech delivered by Director of the Art and Cultural Organization of Tehran Municipality Mohammad-Javad Shushtari.
Next, the jury announced the winners and honorees of each section.
* Best Actress: Masumeh Qasemi “Crimes of a Heart” and Rima Raminfar “A Stranger in the House”
* Best Music: Maryam Daneshmand “Body of a Woman Like a Battlefield in the War in Bosnia”
* Best Costume Designer: Mehrnush Balameh “A Pause Beyond the Legend”
* Best Stage Designer: Fatemeh Zaferani “Depiction in Depth”
* Best Screenplay Award: Mehrnush Balameh “A Stop Beyond the Legend”
The jury did not select a first actor winner.
The jury also selected the play “A Stranger in the House” by Delara Nushin for entry in this year’s Fajr Theater Festival.