The International Coalition for Filmmakers at Risk, founded by the IDFA, IFFR (Rotterdam) and the European Film Academy, and whose mission it is to advocate for and to act in solidarity with filmmakers at risk, published a demand October 11 for Iranian authorities to “immediately and unconditionally stop the use of any force and violence, to release all those arrested during the protests, and to allow the people of Iran to design the society they wish to live in.”
ICFR calls on the international film community to add their voices to demand an end to the Iranian suppression, and to offer their ongoing support to the country’s filmmakers. The ICFR open letter reads:
Solidarity with the People of Iran
“We, the International Coalition for Filmmakers at Risk, hereby declare our full and heartfelt solidarity with all those in Iran who stand up for their basic human rights and the freedom of expression.
“This is a revolution which was sparked off by women and which unites all the ethnic, religious, and social parts of the population; a revolution for a free and worthy life, liberated from the ruling of hateful autocrats who have used every tool for suppression, oppression and atrocity; from terror to prison and execution to suppress the people of Iran and to bury them and their dreams of a decent life.
“We call on the Iranian authorities to immediately and unconditionally stop the use of any force and violence, to release all those arrested during the protests, and to allow the people of Iran to design the society they wish to live in. We encourage all film and culture institutions around the world to do the same.”
Mike Downey Chairman of the European Film Academy and founding board member of the ICFR, adds: “In the wake of Mahsa Amini’s death at the hands of ‘morality police,’ artists and filmmakers across the world are voicing their support for protesters in Iran. The ICFR and European Film Academy, along with other institutions would like to add their voices and platforms, to voice their solidarity and denounce Amini’s death, and also in support of the jailed film makers incarcerated in this latest wave of repression.
“We support the demands filmmakers and visual artists who have requested “direct and public support” for Iranians in an open letter signed by Kaveh Farnam, Abdolreza Kahani, and Shirin Neshat, among others.”
