Iranian directors’ letter read at Berlinale, following gov't travel ban
BERLIN, Germany - On Monday, an Iranian actress playing in a movie screened at the Berlin International Film Festival read out a letter sent by the movie’s directors, who were denied passports by Iran to travel to the event.
During a press conference for Persian film "My Favourite Cake" during the Berlin International Film Festival, better known as the Berlinale, lead actress Lily Farhadpour, read out a letter sent by the film’s directors, Maryam Moghaddam and Behtash Sanaeeha who were denied passports by Iran to travel to the festival. Only the two lead actors were able to attend.
“Today, a film that we have spent three years making, every moment of our lives, is born without our presence with you,” read the letter.
Esmail Mehrabi, male lead in “My Favourite Cake” expressed his sadness at the absence of the movie’s directors. “The owner of the film is the director, he is the one who makes it and oversees the production from moment to moment, so I am sorry that they are not here,” he said.
“My Favourite Cake” tells the story of a 70-year-old woman who has been living alone in Tehran since her husband passed away and her daughter emigrated, and whose life changes drastically when one afternoon, during a tea with friends, she meets someone who will allow her to rediscover romance.
The film features scenes of women without a hijab, as well as dance scenes and scenes in which alcohol is consumed, all things that are considered illegal in Iran. Nevertheless, the film was produced with the permission of Iran.
Mansour Jihani, a friend of Moghaddam and Sanaeeha noted that “Iranian filmmakers have always escaped the obstacles created for them with some artistic innovations.”
The co-chairs of the Berlinale issued a statement ten days before the festival began, asking for the two directors to be allowed to come to Berlin.
“We are trying to find a solution and as I said, Maryam and Behtash should be allowed to come here,” said Carlo Chatrian, artistic director of the Berlinale, stressing that is the reason the statement was issued, in addition to the fact that “we [the Berlinale team] believe in freedom of expression.”
The movie is in competition for the Berlinale’s Golden Bear and Silver Bear awards.
The Berlinale, Europe’s first major film festival of the year, kicked off on Thursday and will last ten days, during which around 200 films of all genres are screened. A Rudaw team is covering the cultural event on the ground.
During a press conference for Persian film "My Favourite Cake" during the Berlin International Film Festival, better known as the Berlinale, lead actress Lily Farhadpour, read out a letter sent by the film’s directors, Maryam Moghaddam and Behtash Sanaeeha who were denied passports by Iran to travel to the festival. Only the two lead actors were able to attend.
“Today, a film that we have spent three years making, every moment of our lives, is born without our presence with you,” read the letter.
Esmail Mehrabi, male lead in “My Favourite Cake” expressed his sadness at the absence of the movie’s directors. “The owner of the film is the director, he is the one who makes it and oversees the production from moment to moment, so I am sorry that they are not here,” he said.
“My Favourite Cake” tells the story of a 70-year-old woman who has been living alone in Tehran since her husband passed away and her daughter emigrated, and whose life changes drastically when one afternoon, during a tea with friends, she meets someone who will allow her to rediscover romance.
The film features scenes of women without a hijab, as well as dance scenes and scenes in which alcohol is consumed, all things that are considered illegal in Iran. Nevertheless, the film was produced with the permission of Iran.
Mansour Jihani, a friend of Moghaddam and Sanaeeha noted that “Iranian filmmakers have always escaped the obstacles created for them with some artistic innovations.”
The co-chairs of the Berlinale issued a statement ten days before the festival began, asking for the two directors to be allowed to come to Berlin.
“We are trying to find a solution and as I said, Maryam and Behtash should be allowed to come here,” said Carlo Chatrian, artistic director of the Berlinale, stressing that is the reason the statement was issued, in addition to the fact that “we [the Berlinale team] believe in freedom of expression.”
The movie is in competition for the Berlinale’s Golden Bear and Silver Bear awards.
The Berlinale, Europe’s first major film festival of the year, kicked off on Thursday and will last ten days, during which around 200 films of all genres are screened. A Rudaw team is covering the cultural event on the ground.