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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March
22, 2010 |
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BOSTON
SOCIETY OF FILM CRITICS PROTESTS THE IMPRISONMENT OF JAFAR PANAHI
BOSTON — The Boston Society of Film Critics has added
its voice to the other critics and international groups in calling for the
release of Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi, who is being held in solitary confinement in an
Iranian jail. Panahi, whose works include “The White Balloon,”
“Crimson Gold,” “The Circle” and “Offside” — films that illustrate the
struggles of women and the poor in his native land — was incarcerated on
March 1st, 2010, and has yet to be charged. In an open
letter, fellow Iranian filmmaker Abbas Kiarostami, director of “Taste of Cherry” and a longtime Panahi collaborator blamed the Ministry of Guidance and
Islamic Culture for Panahi’s ordeal. “He is paying
for the conduct of officials who have for years closed all doors on him,
leaving open small passages and dead end paths.” The Federation of
European Film Directors, the European Film Academy, the Toronto Film Critics
Association, the Berlin Film Festival, the International Film Festival
Rotterdam, and others have already issued formal statements imploring the
immediate release of Panahi. “In a poll of
our membership, the support for Panahi was
unanimous,” said Tom Meek, president of the BSFC. ‘”It’s a travesty to see
such a talented, award-winning director silenced for speaking the truth. I
have always looked forward to his next film with high anticipation. Now we
don’t know when that will be, let alone the peril he may be in.” |
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