Friday, July 8, 2022, Iranian filmmakers Mohammad Rasoulof and Mostafa Aleahmad were arrested and imprisoned in an unknown place, for having protested against violence against civilians in Iran.
Mohammad Rasoulof had already been deprived of his freedom to circulate and work since 2017, following the presentation of his film An honest manwhich had won the Un Certain Regard Prize during the 70th edition of the Cannes Film Festival. His films Manuscripts do not burnFipresci Prize in 2013 and ByePrice of the A certain look scene in 2011, had also been projected there. He had subsequently won The Berlinale gold bear in 2020 with The devil does not exist.
This Monday, July 11, the filmmaker Jafar Panahi was also arrested in Tehran. The Iranian director presented numerous works in Cannes, and in particular the films Three faces, selected in competition in 2018 and awarded the scenario prize as well as Blood and goldPrix du Jury Un Certain Regard in 2003. Jafar Panahi also won the Berlinale gold bear in 2015 for his film Taxi Tehran.
The Cannes Film Festival firmly condemns these arrests as well as the vague repression visibly underway in Iran against its artists and requests the immediate release of Mohammad Rasoulof, Mostafa Aleahmad and Jafar Panahi.
The Cannes Film Festival wishes to reaffirm its support for all those who, around the world, are subjected to violence and reprisals. The festival remains and will always remain the refuge of artists from around the world and will relentlessly put themselves at their service in order to bring their votes loud and clear, for the defense of freedoms of creation and expression.
Official press release from the Cannes Film Festival.
Friday, July 8, 2022, Iranian filmmakers Mohammad Rasoulof and Mostafa Aleahmad were arrested and imprisoned in an unknown place, for having protested against violence against civilians in Iran.
Mohammad Rasoulof had already been deprived of his freedom to circulate and work since 2017, following the presentation of his film An honest manwhich had won the Un Certain Regard Prize during the 70th edition of the Cannes Film Festival. His films Manuscripts do not burnFipresci Prize in 2013 and ByePrice of the A certain look scene in 2011, had also been projected there. He had subsequently won The Berlinale gold bear in 2020 with The devil does not exist.
This Monday, July 11, the filmmaker Jafar Panahi was also arrested in Tehran. The Iranian director presented numerous works in Cannes, and in particular the films Three faces, selected in competition in 2018 and awarded the scenario prize as well as Blood and goldPrix du Jury Un Certain Regard in 2003. Jafar Panahi also won the Berlinale gold bear in 2015 for his film Taxi Tehran.
The Cannes Film Festival firmly condemns these arrests as well as the vague repression visibly underway in Iran against its artists and requests the immediate release of Mohammad Rasoulof, Mostafa Aleahmad and Jafar Panahi.
The Cannes Film Festival wishes to reaffirm its support for all those who, around the world, are subjected to violence and reprisals. The festival remains and will always remain the refuge of artists from around the world and will relentlessly put themselves at their service in order to bring their votes loud and clear, for the defense of freedoms of creation and expression.
Official press release from the Cannes Film Festival.
