Zar Amir Ebrahimi, Milad Halami, Sepideh Farsi Discuss Censorship and Challenges for Diverse, Independent Iranian Cinema at Cannes Panel
variety.comElsa Keslassy International Correspondent Leading lights of contemporary Iranian cinema, including ‘Holy Spider’ actor Zar Amir Ebrahimi, ‘The Siren’ director Sepideh Farsi, ‘The Opponent’ helmer Milad Alami and producer Kaveh Farnham, turned up at the Cannes Film Festival to raise the alarm on the repression faced by Iranian cinema during a session hosted by Amazon Prime Video’s Sahar Baghery.
Iran has been the centerstage of widespread protests driven by women against the Islamic Regime since Mahsa Amini died in police custody for for wearing her hijab too loosely in September 2022.
Although the rebellion has garnered vocal support outside of Iran, it hasn’t succeeded in dethroning the Iranian Regime. A number of dissident Iranian filmmakers and talent have been jailed over the last six months, notably Jafar Panahi and Mohammad Rasoulof who was recently released from prison.
Rasoulof was nevertheless banned from leaving Iran to serve on the jury of Un Certain Regard at Cannes. As Baghery noted, “Iran is experiencing what is considered the greatest repression on Iranian Cinema.
Read more on variety.com
