Today, the Miami Film Festival presented a Precious Gem Award to Jafar Panahi, the currently imprisoned Iranian director, and one of my all-time favorites. In 2010, he was banned from making films, and yet he has continued to make films in secret, at great risk to himself. He has a new one out – No Bears. He was imprisoned – again – this July. And so he is – yet again – in the situation where he is in prison while his films travel the world. Shame shame shame, Iran. He was arrested right before Iran exploded into protests, protests which show no sign of abating. I am with the people of Iran and I support them in overthrowing this disgusting regime, which outwore its welcome 40 years ago. Panahi is being held in Evin Prison, where all the political prisoners are held, and so you can imagine the conditions. The interrogations and tortures. A couple weeks ago there was a fire in Evin Prison, and Iranians who lived nearby took videos of the blaze, and from within the prison you could hear gunfire. Jafar Panahi is now in ill health. Covid ravaged the prison. I heard he came down with it. I have no words to express how devastated I am by what is happening. His new film screened at the New York Film Festival, and he sent a letter, an outcry against what is happening, read from the stage at Lincoln Center. The situation has just gotten worse since then.
I just got a press release in my inbox, and everything stopped. Jafar Panahi – and again imagine the conditions he is living in right now – somehow – somehow – sent an audio message to the Miami Film Festival – how he got it out, I do not know. He always finds a way. He sounds … ravaged. It hurts me to listen to him. But it must be listened to and his words must be heard.
Transcript:
“I thank all the people involved in the Miami Film Festival, who considered me worthy of receiving this award. But … I have dreams that go beyond all the awards in the world. I dream and have always dreamed that in the current situation my country is facing, I could be with my people and portray their struggle for freedom. I also wish that I could make films instead of receiving awards, because a filmmaker lives to make films. Anyway, I hope a day will come when I can make a film, and attend your festival with it. And I’m hoping for the realization of all of my people’s wishes.”
“I also wish that I could make films instead of receiving awards.”
I know there are those who are “inspired” by moments like this. He manages to smuggle out an audio clip, and send a message of hope! Yeah, well, I’m not inspired. I’m enraged that he even HAS to do this. I am glad he DOES, and he will always and forever be one of the strongest examples for me of the values of intransigence and maintaining your INNER freedom in a totalitarian environment … but no. I’m not inspired. I’m pissed and heartbroken.
I was amazed to see that the Ayatollah Khomeini’s museum was burned down. There is more reason to believe that Mr. Panahi’s hope will be realized than there has been in a long time.
Yes, I saw that. Incredible!! I never thought I’d see the day. the regime planning mass executions of the protesters they have rounded up – like they did in 2019. and 2009. So it’s very precarious and I am truly concerned. This situation can’t go on. And this regime will not go down quietly.
Agreed. I’m glad that protests are going on in multiple cities. The Iranian government can’t do what the Chinese gov. did in Tiananmen and just bring in divisions from the countryside that had been told the effete city folk were being unpatriotic. But there a lot of people held by that terrible regime.
Crackdowns aren’t going to work this time. But that won’t stop the regime from trying.
Public pressure is so important. The media has failed entirely. The PUBLIC, however, has come through beautifully. There was just another huge protest in NYC a couple days ago. Twitter is going to shut down. It’s alarming.