”The Iranian regime ”chops of hands and stiches” Jafar Panahis mouth”, says Artistic Director Lasse Skagen at the Oslo Films from the South festival (oct 6-16,2011).
6 years imprisonment for the director with his heart condition. A ban to make movies, write scripts, travel abroad and to talk with national and foreign media for the next 20 years. That is the conclusions in the sensational verdict that was released on his case just before christmas 2010.
Jafar Panahi opened the Oslo Films from the South festival in 2006 with the Silver Bear winner OFFSIDE. Being present together with Abbas Kiarostami and Shirin Ebadi. In OFFSIDE he challenged the regime with a simple story about a young woman with a dream of attending a footballmatch between the countries National soccer team and Bahrain. Qualifing for the World Cup. The Iranian board of Priests rejected the film as being subversiv and started investigations on the director. On march the 1st, 2010 he was arrested and imprisoned at the Evian prison in Teheran. Allegedly because he was making a new film in his house. After an international outcry, even by the more political silent director Abbas Kiarostami, he was released on bail 3 months later. Also due to a serious heartcondition. But now the sentence is released and it is far more grave than expected.
The Oslo Films from the South will for the festival October 6 to 16, 2011, screen Jafars film OFFSIDE as a Special Screening Event. Donating the revenue to the cause of working internationally for his appeal and release. We encourage all festivals in the world to make the same screening event for their festival, creating a world wide filmfestival movement for his release. And we encourage The Berlinale to take responsibility and establish a fund that will work for this cause in 2011, and channel the support for festivals worldwide in the efforts for his appeal and release.
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