Owj Arts and Media Organization (; 'Owj' means ''Peak'') is legally a media
non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization (NGO) is an independent, typically nonprofit organization that operates outside government control, though it may get a significant percentage of its funding from government or corporate sources. NGOs often focus ...
in
Iran
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq to the west, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia to the northwest, the Caspian Sea to the north, Turkmenistan to the nort ...
, active in launching campaigns, film production and distribution.
reformists
Reformism is a political tendency advocating the reform of an existing system or institution – often a political establishment , political or religion , religious establishment – as opposed to its abolition and replacement via revolution.
...
, anti-
Iran deal
The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA; (, BARJAM)), also known as the Iran nuclear deal or Iran deal, is an agreement to limit the Iranian nuclear program in return for sanctions relief and other provisions. The agreement was finalized ...
,
anti-American
Anti-Americanism (also called anti-American sentiment and Americanophobia) is a term that can describe several sentiments and po ...
, and subject to
Holocaust denial
Historical negationism, Denial of the Holocaust is an antisemitic conspiracy theory that asserts that the genocide of Jews by the Nazi Party, Nazis is a fabrication or exaggeration. It includes making one or more of the following false claims:
...
.
Owj organization seems reluctant to provide details about its owner(s) or corporate structure. Its website "About Us" section reads: "Perhaps more important and better than knowing when Owj was established and who were its founders, … it is better to introduce its nature and identity". The organization has been claimed to have ties with
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), also known as the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, is a multi-service primary branch of the Islamic Republic of Iran Armed Forces, Iranian Armed Forces. It was officially established by Ruhollah Khom ...
. In 2018, Owj's executive director and
Ebrahim Hatamikia
Ebrahim Hatamikia (; born 23 September 1961) is an Iranian film director, screenwriter, cinematographer and actor. Hatamikia is a prolific proponent of films depicting the Iran–Iraq War's impact on Iran. His films are considered some of the be ...
, a director working for the organization publicly admitted that the organization is run and funded by the IRGC.
Notable works
Billboard campaign
*“Be With Us, Be Safe” (2012–13): The high-context billboard, installed near the busy
Valiasr square
Valiasr Street (), formerly known as Pahlavi Street, is a tree-lined street in Tehran, dividing the metropolis into western and eastern parts which were built in 1922 to 1927 respectively, considering the end of asphalt plan it ended in 1933. It ...
of Tehran, shows then-
U.S. President
The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president directs the Federal government of the United States#Executive branch, executive branch of the Federal government of t ...
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II (born August 4, 1961) is an American politician who was the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, he was the first African American president in American history. O ...
standing next to
Shemr
Abū al-Sābigha Shamir ibn Dhī al-Jawshan (), often known as Shamir or Shimar, was an Arab military commander from Kufa who killed Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, at the Battle of Karbala in 680.
Life
Shimr was a s ...
—a villain, according to
shi'ite
Shia Islam is the second-largest branch of Islam. It holds that Muhammad designated Ali ibn Abi Talib () as both his political successor (caliph) and as the spiritual leader of the Muslim community (imam). However, his right is understood to ...
—and offering a letter of protection to the reader. A
BBC Persian
BBC Persian () is the Persian language broadcast station and subsidiary of BBC World Service which conveys the latest political, social, economical and sport news relevant to Iran and the world. Its headquarters are in London, United Kingdom.
Pe ...
nuclear negotiations
The Nuclear technology, nuclear program of Iran is one of the most scrutinized nuclear programs in the world. The military capabilities of the program are possible through its mass Enriched uranium, enrichment activities in facilities such a ...
were ongoing, several posters were installed in Tehran streets, displaying Iranian and American diplomats sitting at the table, with the American side wearing a suit with military pants and boots and pointing a gun towards the Iranian negotiator, who looked like
Mohammad Javad Zarif
Mohammad Javad Zarif (; born 8 January 1960) is an Iranian career diplomat and academic. He served as the vice president for strategic affairs from August 2024 to March 2025.
* “A Single Blossom Does Not Bring Spring: More Children, A Happier Life” (2013–14): Billboards carrying the slogan began to pop up along major highways, targeting the former slogan of
family planning in Iran
Iran had a comprehensive and effective program of family planning since the beginning of the 1990s. While Iran's population grew at a rate of more than 3% per year between 1956 and 1986, the growth rate began to decline in the late 1980s and early ...
: “Fewer children, better life” and encouraging more children in the family. The posters were heavily criticized for their view on role of mother in family.
* “Know The Shemr of Your Time” (2014)
Short animation
*''Becharkh ta Becharkhim'' (2015): Roughly translated as 'two can play that game', the animation aired on state-run TV's children's channel IRIB Children symbolically narrates the "honorific"
Iran's nuclear program
The Nuclear technology, nuclear program of Iran is one of the most scrutinized nuclear programs in the world. The military capabilities of the program are possible through its mass Enriched uranium, enrichment activities in facilities such a ...
and the "desperate" negotiations from its own point-of-view. The animations depictates Mr. Sam as the villain and characters loosely based on Iranian figures, who are members of the family of "Agha Joon" (
Khamenei
Ali Hosseini Khamenei (; born 19 April 1939) is an Iranian cleric and politician who has served as the second supreme leader of Iran since 1989. He previously served as the third president from 1981 to 1989. Khamenei's tenure as Supreme Leader ...
), such as the compromiser "Uncle Hassan" (
Rouhani
Hassan Rouhani (; born Hassan Fereydoun, 12 November 1948) is an Iranian politician who served as the seventh president of Iran from 2013 to 2021. He is also a sharia lawyer (" Wakil"), academic, former diplomat and Islamic cleric. He served ...
), the persevering "Uncle Mahmoud" (
Ahmadinejad
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (born Mahmoud Sabbaghian on 28 October 1956) is an Iranian principlist and nationalist politician who served as the sixth president of Iran from 2005 to 2013. He is currently a member of the Expediency Discernment Council. ...
) and the coward "Uncle Mohammad" (
Khatami
Mohammad Khatami (born 14 October 1943) is an Iranian politician and Shia cleric who served as the fifth president of Iran from 3 August 1997 to 3 August 2005. He also served as Iran's Minister of Culture from 1982 to 1992. Later, he was critic ...
). The animation sparked controversy in April 2016.
Documentary
*''Roaring Waters'' (2013): Directed by Lebanese filmmaker Mohammad Dabouq about power of
Navy of the Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN; ; officially abbreviated in Persian as NEDSA and also known as the Sepah Navy) is the naval warfare service of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps founded in 1985, and one of the two maritime ...
Feature film
*''
Bodyguard
A bodyguard (or close protection officer/operative) is a type of security guard, government law enforcement officer, or servicemember who protects an very important person, important person or group of people, such as high-ranking public offic ...
Conspiracy Theory
A conspiracy theory is an explanation for an event or situation that asserts the existence of a conspiracy (generally by powerful sinister groups, often political in motivation), when other explanations are more probable.Additional sources:
* ...
Prisoners (2019 film)
Prisoners is a feature film directed, written and produced by Masoud Dehnamaki; It was released in 2018. “Prisoners” is a comedy and satire with a social theme and moral meaning. The film was also released in Iranian cinemas in 2018.
Synopsis
...
'' (2019)
**''
Exodus
Exodus or the Exodus may refer to:
Religion
* Book of Exodus, second book of the Hebrew Torah and the Christian Bible
* The Exodus, the biblical story of the migration of the ancient Israelites from Egypt into Canaan
Historical events
* Ex ...
International Holocaust Cartoon Competition
International Holocaust Cartoon Contest was a 2006 cartoon competition, sponsored by the Iranian newspaper ''Hamshahri'', to denounce what it called Western "double standards on freedom of speech". The event was staged in response to the ''Jylla ...
(2016): co-organized with ''Sarcheshmeh Cultural Center''
Other Works
* “Lady World” - on influential religious women.
* Graffiti (Valiasr square)
*''Esfand'': the film addresses the topic of the Iran-Iraq War, in particular regarding the natives of the
Khuzestan province
Khuzestan province () is one of the 31 Provinces of Iran. Located in the southwest of the country, the province borders Iraq and the Persian Gulf, covering an area of . Its capital is the city of Ahvaz. Since 2014, it has been part of Iran's R ...
; this film deals with a part of Ali Hashemi's life, especially the period when he was present in the reconnaissance and planning of the Khyber operation.
*Majnoon (Madman) (2024)
*Colonel Soraya (Sarhang Soraya) (2023)
*Woolina and the No Birds (Babaee-ye Ghahreman) (2024)
*Parviz Khan (2024)
*Strange (Gharib) (2023)
*Mansour (2021)
*Abadan 1160 (2020)
*Rooze Balva (2020)
*The Misunderstanding (Soo-e-Tafahom) (2018)
*Lebas Shakhsi (2020)
*Son of Maryam (2022)
*Che (2014)
* Abi-e Roshan (film)
* The Holy Cast
*
Mastooran
Mastooran (Persian: مستوران) is an Iranian television series consisting of two seasons: the first season directed by Masoud Abparvar, and Seyyed Jamal Seyyed Hatami and the second season directed by Seyyed Ali Hashemi, commissioned by the ...
Misunderstanding (2018 film)
Misunderstanding (Persian: سوءتفاهم) is a film directed and written by Ahmadreza Motamedi and produced by Jalil Shabani, produced in 2017 by Owj Arts and Media Organization. The film was released in Iranian cinemas on February 13, 2019.
...
*
Prisoners (2019 film)
Prisoners is a feature film directed, written and produced by Masoud Dehnamaki; It was released in 2018. “Prisoners” is a comedy and satire with a social theme and moral meaning. The film was also released in Iranian cinemas in 2018.
Synopsis
...