Yahoo News Sandra Hüller, Sean Baker, Laura Poitras Call for Solidarity With Mohammad Rasoulof and Iranian Filmmakers in Open Letter (EXCLUSIVE)
International filmmakers are calling for solidarity with Mohammad Rasoulof and persecuted filmmakers in Iran in an open letter, shared with Variety.
Rasoulof – about to screen his latest film “The Seed of the Sacred Fig” in Cannes’ main competition – was sentenced to imprisonment and torture by the Islamic Republic of Iran. He fled the country.
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“We condemn the inhumane treatment of Rasoulof and numerous other independent artists in Iran, who are being severely punished, criminalized and silenced for exercising their artistic freedom,” it was stated in the letter, already signed by “Holy Spider” star Zar Amir Ebrahimi, Fatih Akin, Atom Egoyan, Ildiko Enyedi, Andrew Haigh, Agnieszka Holland, Laura Poitras, Sandra Hüller, Sean Baker, Payal Kapadia and Ariane Labed.
“We stand in full solidarity with Rasoulof’s demands and call upon the international film community to raise our voices against an Islamist dictatorship that systematically oppresses every aspect of their society’s lives.”
“Rasoulof’s own words resonate deeply when he specifically considers his remaining colleagues: “Those who courageously and selflessly confront censorship instead of supporting it are reassured of the importance of their actions by the support of international film organizations. As I know from personal experience, it can be an invaluable help for them to continue their vital work’.”
Rasoulof is also behind “Goodbye,” “Manuscripts Don’t Burn” and “A Man of Integrity” – all awarded at Cannes. He won Berlinale’s Golden Bear for “There is No Evil.” He has been arrested several times.
Other signatories include Fatih Akin, Aaron Altaras, Christopher Aoun, Emily Atef, Nabil Ayouch, Malick Bauer, Cynthia Beatt, Edward Berger, Bettina Böhler, Detlev Buck, Fred Burle, Šárka Cimbálová, Denis Côté, Jonas Dassler, Jonas Dornbach, Mike Downey, Fabian Gasmia, Valeska Grisebach, Thomas Hakim, Helene Hegemann, Julia von Heinz, Janine Jackowski, Rosh Khodabakhsh, Marie-Louise Khondji, Constantin Lieb, David Lowery, Roberto Minervini, Mariko Minoguchi, Ottessa Moshfegh, Shirin Neshat, Ulrike Ottinger, Ayşe Polat, Julian Rosefeldt, Ira Sachs, Uwe Schott, Christian Schwochow, Shaunak Sen, Jean-Christophe Simon, Maryam Touzani, Jeanne Tremsal, Tom Tykwer and Franz Rogowski, fresh off premiere of Andrea Arnold’s “Bird.”
“Artistic freedom is a fundamental human right. We understand that solidarity has the power to change and save lives, and Cinema has the potential to transform realities and worlds. Only united can we stand up to the authorities, against censorship and suppression of critical voices,” it also aid in the letter, initiated by a group of Berlin-based filmmakers: Tara Afsah, Raquel Dukpa, Paulina Lorenz, Jorgo Narjes, Faraz Shariat and Maryam Zaree.
“We see you, we hear you, we will stand with you against this oppressive system.”
In “The Seed of the Sacred Fig,” sold by Films Boutique, an investigating judge in the Revolutionary Court in Tehran grapples with mistrust and paranoia as nationwide political protests intensify and his gun mysteriously disappears.
Suspecting the involvement of his wife Najmeh and his daughters Rezvan and Sana, he imposes drastic measures at home, causing tensions to rise. Step by step, social norms and the rules of family life are suspended.
You can find the full letter here:
“We, an alliance of international filmmakers, call upon the Islamic Republic of Iran to release filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof from the brutal and unlawful persecution and sentencing to imprisonment, confiscation of property, and flogging that forced him to flee the country.
We condemn the inhumane treatment of Rasoulof and numerous other independent artists in Iran, who are being severely punished, criminalized and silenced for exercising their artistic freedom. It is the Iranian authorities who commit crimes when they try to silence critical voices and persecute violently any political dissent for the sake of their own retention of power. We all bear witness to their atrocities.
We stand in full solidarity with Rasoulof’s demands and call upon the international film community to raise our voices against an Islamist dictatorship that systematically oppresses every aspect of their society’s lives. Rasoulof’s own words resonate deeply when he specifically considers his remaining colleagues:
‘The world’s cinema community must provide effective support for the creators of such films. Freedom of speech should be defended, loudly and clearly. Those who courageously and selflessly confront censorship instead of supporting it are reassured of the importance of their actions by the support of international film organizations. As I know from personal experience, it can be an invaluable help for them to continue their vital work.’
Artistic freedom is a fundamental human right. As part of the world’s cinema community, we have to fight for every artist’s right of creative expression. We understand that solidarity has the power to change and save lives, and Cinema has the potential to transform realities and worlds. Only united can we stand up to the authorities, against censorship and suppression of critical voices. We stand in solidarity with all oppressed people in Iran. Jin, Jiyan, Azadî! Women, Life, Freedom!”
“We see you, we hear you, we will stand with you against this oppressive system.”
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