Several cinema associations from Nice and Amnesty International are organizing support days for the Iranian filmmakers Jafar Panahi and Mohammad Rasoulof on January 7, 8, and 9 at the Mercury cinema in Nice.
The two directors were sentenced a few days ago by their country’s judiciary to six years of imprisonment, with Jafar Panahi also banned from filming, traveling abroad, and giving interviews for a period of twenty years, essentially for the remainder of his professional life.
The charges — “participation in gatherings and propaganda against the regime” — obviously do not hold water and only reinforce the absurdity and futility of the verdict.
Through these two filmmakers, the entire artistic freedom of Iranian cinema is more threatened than ever before.
The international film community immediately reacted by demanding the immediate and unconditional release of the two filmmakers. The associations endorsing this text believe in the necessary critical freedom of the artist, wherever they may be, and have resolutely decided to mobilize to make the voices of those who are being silenced once and for all heard. And because we believe that the best weapon of an artist is their work, we have chosen to screen the five feature films of Jafar Panahi, all of which have won multiple awards, and the latest one by Mohammad Rasoulof.
Six films that will receive as many presentations and will systematically be followed by debates with the audience.
We therefore call on the public to come and show their support for these two filmmakers.
Signatory Associations:
Cinema without Borders (CSF)
Independent Gaze
Association for Democracy in Nice (ADN)
Heliotrope
Polychromes
Amnesty International – Nice
Les Ouvreurs (In&Out)
Lusophone Cinema
Les Méduses
Each film will be preceded by a presentation and followed by a debate with the audience.
Mercury Cinema
16 Place Garibaldi
06300 Nice
PROGRAM
Friday, January 7
6:30 PM – The White Balloon (1995, 1h25). Host: Philippe Serve (CSF).
9:15 PM – The Mirror (1996, 1h33, original version with French subtitles) by Jafar Panahi. Host: Laurent Trémeau (Heliotrope).
Saturday, January 8
5 PM – The Circle (2001, 1h30, original version with French subtitles) by Jafar Panahi. Host: ADN.
9:15 PM – Offside (2006, 1h28, original version with French subtitles) by Jafar Panahi. Host: Philippe Serve (CSF).
Sunday, January 9
3 PM – The Life on the Water (2005, 1h30, original version with French subtitles) by Mohammad Rasoulof. Host: Vincent Jourdan (Independent Gaze).
7:30 PM – Crimson Gold (2004, 1h37, original version with French subtitles) by Jafar Panahi. Host: Josiane Scoleri (CSF).
