Tag Archives: Jafar Panahi

Today, the Sheila Variations is old enough to drink.

The above pic of me – taken by Michael – graced the top of my original blog, when I set it up 21 years ago today. I never should have put my picture up – it led to a lot … Continue reading

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“If someone spends his life writing the truth without caring for the consequences, he inevitably becomes a political authority in a totalitarian regime.” — Václav Havel

“Hope is definitely not the same thing as optimism. It is not the conviction that something will turn out well, but the certainty that something makes sense, regardless of how it turns out.” — Václav Havel Václav Havel, whose birthday … Continue reading

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“Nothing can prevent me from making films.” — Jafar Panahi

It’s his birthday today. Jafar Panahi should need no introduction, but just in case… Jafar Panahi is an Iranian director with an international reputation, and a daunting list of films, many of which were made under terrible conditions (The White … Continue reading

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“Cinema seats make people lazy. They expect to be given all the information. But for me, question marks are the punctuation of life.” — Abbas Kiarostami

It’s his birthday today. When Iranian filmmaker Abbas Kiarostami died at the age of 76, shock waves erupted through the film world. There was a general feeling: What are we supposed to do now? If you’ve seen just one of … Continue reading

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Jafar Panahi at the airport??!! What a moment to celebrate.

Jafar Panahi and his wife Tahereh Saeedi. At the airport. Leaving Iran. I repeat: JAFAR PANAHI IS LEAVING IRAN. I can’t believe this day has come. I am almost afraid to believe it. Like it’s a trap. Jafar Panahi’s wife, … Continue reading

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Jafar Panahi out on bail

It’s been a whirlwind 24 hours. Yesterday Jafar Panahi announced, via open letter, that he was going on hunger strike to protest his imprisonment. The announcement was completely devastating for those of us who have been EXTREMELY concerned about him … Continue reading

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NYFCC: Special award for Jafar Panahi

This year, we at NYFCC gave out three special awards, one to Jake Perlin, curator, distributor and publisher in recognition of his indispensable contributions to film culture, one to dGenerate Films for its invaluable work bringing independent films to China, … Continue reading

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NYFCC Awards re-cap

This week we had our NYFCC Awards Dinner in New York. You never know who’s going to show up as a presenter. David Byrne was there! Mary Harron! “Marty” on the video monitor talking about the aspect ratio of Tar. … Continue reading

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“I will stand with the families of the prisoners and murdered and demand their rights.” — Taraneh Alidoosti

Taraneh Alidoosti, one of the most famous actresses in Iran, has been arrested. Nobody knows where she is. [UPDATE: It’s been confirmed by her father that she’s in Evin Prison. Where they put “political” prisoners. Where they put Jafar Panahi. … Continue reading

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Movies I Loved in 2022

It is the month of Top 10 Lists. I’ve submitted a few to different sites. And … each list is slightly different. Because I’m not a list person and I don’t rank things and I really don’t like to argue … Continue reading

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