Free Jafar Panahi (Again!)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/dec/20/iran-jails-jafar-panahi-films

The acclaimed Iranian film-maker Jafar Panahi was sentenced to six years in prison today, and banned from directing and producing films for the next 20 years, his lawyer said.

The previous topic on Panahi’s previous arrest.

http://mubi.com/topics/8193?page=1

There is also a facebook page and he was mentioned alongside the jailed Iranian filmmaker Muhammad Rasoulof on today’s Democracy Now!.

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/solidarite-jafar-panahi/

Thank you for the information Shantih and Jorge.

The saddest news of 2010.

Sad news, indeed.

FREE PANAHI & FREE IRANIAN CINEMA FROM THOSE ATTEMPTING TO SILENCE IT!

Thanks Ira and Nohea.

As reminded by Jimmy Paradiso and Nohea

FREE Jafar Panahi and Mohammed Rassoulov,

Free Iranian Cinema,

Free All of Cinema,

http://momentaries.multiply.com/journal/item/205/Free_Iranian_Cinema_Free_All_of_Cinema

This is awful, pure fascism. I recently watched Panahi’s film Offside and loved it. It’s terrible that such an artistic talent is being censored like this. I signed the petition, so hopefully that will help in some way.

Terrible news..
How can these things still happen?

We should feel happy for having our freedom of expression because some people, like in the case of Panahi, haven’t that right. Specially with art and politics, where so many people are censored and forbidden to express themselves freely and peacefully.

Damn, I’ve only seen one of his films, but no one should be arrested just like this. Hasn’t any influential figure supported him yet this time?

Let’s hope they set him free and allow him keep making films.

I’m not too familiar with the Janfar Panahi case. What exactly has he been charged with?

David Bordwell has blogged about Panahi and the conviction here

Thank you everyone for caring.

@Frog Moth, you can find links about the case here at my multiply blog.

http://momentaries.multiply.com/journal/item/205/Free_Iranian_Cinema_Free_All_of_Cinema

Panahi is a great filmmaker.

No one has to be imprisoned, tortured or prohibited just for expressing any kind of ideas. artistics, political or whatever. Anywhere in the World. Never.

‎"Despite all the injustice done to me, I, Jafar Panahi, declare once again that I am an Iranian, I am staying in my country and I like to work in my own country. I love my country, I have paid a price for this love too, and I am willing to pay again if necessary." – J. Panahi, from his defence presented to the court.

The full text of his statement is here:

http://www.facebook.com/notes/jafar-panahi/jafar-panahis-defense-presented-to-the-court/458273508062

http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/17/an-iranian-directors-impassioned-defense/

@ Geronimo and Gadjo Dilo

Thank you both for sharing your sentiments and information regarding this terrible situation.

links from the facebook site:

Filmmakers, festivals protest Panahi jail sentence

http://www.cbc.ca/arts/film/story/2010/12/24/panahi-protest-filmmakers-festivals-petition.html

http://www.petitiononline.com/INDIA/petition.html

I received this in my e-mail from critic Olaf Moller. Please share this with other filmmakers you know.

On the Persecution of Iranian Filmmakers

dear friends and acquaintances!

my friend and esteemed colleague gabe klinger send me this open letter to mahmud ahmadinejad written by your colleague rafi pitts; before the letter proper, you’ll find a call for a united show of support for jafar panahi and mohammad rasoulof on february 11th.

gabe asked me to forward this to the filmmakers i know, which i hereby do, and do so gladly.
take note, take action.

cheers
der om

In Solidarity with Jafar Panahi and Mohammad Rasoulof, we suggest to all filmmakers and members of the film industry, regardless of your country or borders, religion or politics, to support our fellow filmmakers by not working for two hours between 15:00-17:00 (local time in Tehran) on the 11th of February 2011, the date of the 32nd anniversary of the Iranian Revolution. To Mr. Ahmadinejad, In 1979 there was a Revolution. In fact, the commemoration, the 32nd year of our Iranian Revolution, is on the 11th of February 2011. The reason you need to be reminded of this is because I feel that you have forgotten the reasons why this all happened. Maybe I’m wrong, maybe you need to explain yourself. Maybe you have your own definition of our Revolution. In which case I feel you should respond to the question: Why do you think we had a Revolution in 1979? The time has also come to clarify your reasons for wanting filmmakers to be put away. Your reasons for wanting to kill a life, a career, in the name of our Revolution, or maybe I’m asking the wrong question: Is it all about your re-election? A very close friend, Jafar Panahi, one of our most important filmmakers, for whom I have great respect as a person, and admiration as a filmmaker, is being imprisoned by your government, by your law. He is sentenced to six years for wanting to make a film. A film he hasn’t even made. Six years in prison on an idea for a film. On top of it all, as though that wasn’t enough, he is sentenced to twenty years of not being allowed to make another film and twenty years of not being able to leave his homeland. Another important young director, Mohammad Rasoulof, is being convicted with the same sentence. His crime: working with Jafar. They are both punished for caring about their fellow man. Punished for wanting to understand the events of June 2009. Punished for caring about the lives that were lost in the conflict due to the elections. Although, need you be reminded, all candidates had been given permission to present themselves by the regime. The choices were very clear and indeed legal. Jafar Panahi and Mohammad Rasoulof made their decision alongside the majority of our film industry. It became the Green Movement. The right was given to us. - Do you think there is anything wrong in wanting to understand why people died in our last elections? - Do you really believe that our country is unaware of the violence the election results caused? - Is it a crime for Panahi to want to make another film? - Is it a crime for Rasoulof to question reality? - Is it because filmmakers want to hold up a mirror on what has happened to society? - Are you afraid of a point of view that might contradict yours? In which case, please answer the question: Why did we have a Revolution? Rafi Pitts, 24th of December 2010, Paris

To all Filmmakers: On the Persecution of Iranian Filmmakers-An Open Letter to Mahmud Ahmadinejad

http://www.facebook.com/note.php?saved&&note_id=10150342539400599#!/notes/linao-momentaries/to-all-filmmakers-on-the-persecution-of-iranian-filmmakers-an-open-letter-to-mah/10150342539400599?notif_t=note_comment

What a shame! Can’t believe this is possible. Hoping for a miracle.

@Chasing Butterflies

Thanks for caring.

bump

This is totally ridiculous. A government can not stand any other thinking options, Any work of art or its creator can not be prevented from sustain his work. I wish he will be released. I wish all countries will protest this, At least there should be a huge pression on Iran for doing such kind of things. All festivals should make a Panahi and Mohammad Rasoulof screenings this year. This event at least should make these directors movies be seen by huge amount of people.

Free Jafar Panahi and Mohammad Rasoulof

From indiewire:

“In an interview aired on Iran’s state-run TV, Iranian Islamic Guidance Minister Mohammad Hosseini said that the Iranian government might reconsider Panahi’s punishment, providing he promises to change the content of his films.”

I don’t think Panahi would submit himself to this kind of “re-education” but, on the other hand, I wouldn’t blame the guy for making a deal to stay out of prison.

“I wouldn’t blame the guy for making a deal to stay out of prison.”

More Kiarostami and Majidi children-based films? Well…better than nothing…

Thank you Arman, Ari and Dimitris for your thoughts.

This issue needs highlighting. The Iranian government has done more by this action to condemn itself in the eyes of the international community than any number of films that might criticise aspects of Iranian society and policies. The quality of Iranian films in recent decades, whether politically challenging or charming child-based tales, has given a positive image of the country as a corrective to all the hateful and demonising warmongering and propaganda of certain countries in the West, The punishments handed out to decent individuals wanting to help their fellow humans completely undermines that acceptable face of Iran and merely plays into the hands of its enemies.

“The quality of Iranian films in recent decades, whether politically challenging or charming child-based tales, has given a positive image of the country as a corrective to all the hateful and demonising warmongering and propaganda of certain countries in the West,”

Yes, the very fact that a filmmaker like Panahi could make the films he did in Iran always seemed like a corrective to propaganda and easy assumptions about Iranian society (even if most? of his films were banned in Iran). On the other hand, his situation does not appear to be getting the attention it needs to (short of slapping him with a Nobel Peace Prize, I’m not sure what would).

What is this Cine Foundation International, Kenji?

“Cine Foundation International, a humanitarian cinema organization, a non-profit film company, founded November 2010, is launching a campaign of protest films calling for the release of Jafar Panahi and to highlight human rights in Iran, and parallel situations elsewhere. The campaign will be spearheaded by 6 commissioned feature-length films and 20 short films, examining a global relationship to ideas of nation, self, other, identity, spiritual culture, imprisonment, censorship, regime, protest and human rights.”

Bela Tarr is on the board and it was set up by certain fine people here

You can click on it above