Call to boycott Iranian festival in support of directors Panahi and Rasoulof
Call to boycott Iranian festival in support of directors Panahi and Rasoulof
A call to boycott the Iranian State-Sponsored Fajr Film Festival in Defense of Jafar Panahi & Mohammad Rasoulof has been issued in 7 languages by the Committee in Defense of the Iranian director in Tehran.
The call reads as follows:
Due to the current conditions and heavy sentences passed down to Jafar Panahi and Mohammad Rasoulof, we believe it is our duty to ask all international festivals and all those who are involved in cinematic work around the world and also all international filmmakers to boycott the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Fajr Film Festival to be held in February 2011.
It is clear that the organizers of the Fajr Film Festival pretend like the political, social, and cultural situation in Iran is completely normal and calm. It is also clear that because of the security situation we cannot expose the names who called for this boycott.
According to RAHANA, Panahi has been sentenced to 6 years in prison for assembly and collusion and anti-regime propaganda, and deprived of his civil rights including filmmaking, writing film scripts, travelling abroad and interviewing with the media for 20 years.
Rasoulof has also been sentenced to 6 years of imprisonment for assembly and collusion and anti-regime propaganda.
They were arrested in March of 2010 in a raid of Panahi’s home. They were detained along with his family and 12 guests who were later released.
Panahi was released on a 200,000 bail in June and Rasoulof was released in March
The imprisonment of Jafar Panahi, director of Iranian masterpieces like Venice Golden Lion-winning The White Balloon, The Circle, and Berlin Silver Bear-winner Offside, and Mohammad Rasoulof (lesser known in the U.S. since fewer of his films have received theatrical releases here, despite their stellar quality) has drawn consternation from Directors Guild of America president Taylor Hackford.
From the DGA site:
"The Directors Guild of America condemns the baseless arrest and sentencing of filmmaker Jafar Panahi by the Iranian government.
We are outraged by this attempt to lock away and silence Mr. Panahi, a world-renowned filmmaker, along with his fellow filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof who was similarly sentenced. We understand full well how crucial creative freedom is to liberty, art, culture and human rights, and we oppose any attempt to suppress the rights of artists to engage in creative expression.
We stand together with the world’s film community to protest this illegal action. We urge the Iranian government to rescind its misguided decision and free Mr. Panahi and Mr. Rasoulof."
Similarly, Martin Scorsese released a statement of support, saying, “I was shocked and disheartened by the news of Jafar Panahi and Mohammad Rasoulof’s conviction and sentencing. It’s depressing to imagine a society with so little faith in its own citizens that it feels compelled to lock up anyone with a contrary opinion. As filmmakers, we all need to stand up for Panahi and Rasoulof. We should applaud their courage and campaign aggressively for their immediate release.”
The call reads as follows:
Due to the current conditions and heavy sentences passed down to Jafar Panahi and Mohammad Rasoulof, we believe it is our duty to ask all international festivals and all those who are involved in cinematic work around the world and also all international filmmakers to boycott the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Fajr Film Festival to be held in February 2011.
It is clear that the organizers of the Fajr Film Festival pretend like the political, social, and cultural situation in Iran is completely normal and calm. It is also clear that because of the security situation we cannot expose the names who called for this boycott.
According to RAHANA, Panahi has been sentenced to 6 years in prison for assembly and collusion and anti-regime propaganda, and deprived of his civil rights including filmmaking, writing film scripts, travelling abroad and interviewing with the media for 20 years.
Rasoulof has also been sentenced to 6 years of imprisonment for assembly and collusion and anti-regime propaganda.
They were arrested in March of 2010 in a raid of Panahi’s home. They were detained along with his family and 12 guests who were later released.
Panahi was released on a 200,000 bail in June and Rasoulof was released in March
The imprisonment of Jafar Panahi, director of Iranian masterpieces like Venice Golden Lion-winning The White Balloon, The Circle, and Berlin Silver Bear-winner Offside, and Mohammad Rasoulof (lesser known in the U.S. since fewer of his films have received theatrical releases here, despite their stellar quality) has drawn consternation from Directors Guild of America president Taylor Hackford.
From the DGA site:
"The Directors Guild of America condemns the baseless arrest and sentencing of filmmaker Jafar Panahi by the Iranian government.
We are outraged by this attempt to lock away and silence Mr. Panahi, a world-renowned filmmaker, along with his fellow filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof who was similarly sentenced. We understand full well how crucial creative freedom is to liberty, art, culture and human rights, and we oppose any attempt to suppress the rights of artists to engage in creative expression.
We stand together with the world’s film community to protest this illegal action. We urge the Iranian government to rescind its misguided decision and free Mr. Panahi and Mr. Rasoulof."
Similarly, Martin Scorsese released a statement of support, saying, “I was shocked and disheartened by the news of Jafar Panahi and Mohammad Rasoulof’s conviction and sentencing. It’s depressing to imagine a society with so little faith in its own citizens that it feels compelled to lock up anyone with a contrary opinion. As filmmakers, we all need to stand up for Panahi and Rasoulof. We should applaud their courage and campaign aggressively for their immediate release.”
