Festival directors show their support for Iranian filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof
Director Mohammad Rasoulof (Manuscripts Don’t Burn) recently had his passport confiscated and is forbidden to leave Iran. Stockholm International Film Festival wants to show its support and put the spotlight on the fact that many filmmakers are not able to perform their work without the influence of censorship.
Mohammad Rasoulof is participating in the 24th edition of Stockholm International Film Festival with his film Manuscripts Don’t Burn. Mr. Rasoulof is invited to the festival but had his passport confiscated during a recent visit to Iran and has since then been prohibited from leaving the country.
Stockholm International Film Festival and a number of Swedish and international directors today gathered outside the Iranian embassy to show their support for Mohammad Rasoulof. The support will continue on the official festival website, www.stockholmfilmfestival.se/en.
– We want to show that it is unacceptable to prevent filmmakers, artists and journalists from performing their work. Therefore it is important that we colleagues jointly raise our voices and protest against the censorship that Mohammad Rasoulof is subjected to, says Chairman of the film festival jury, Kristian Petri.
– Iran has produced films of world class and Stockholm International Film Festival just wishes that Iranian directors are able to make the films they want and are able to travel to the countries they wish, says Festival Director Git Scheynius.
On Saturday the 16th, the Stockholm International Film Festival arranges a freedom day with a number of films related to the section being shown. There will also be a seminar arranged by Mark Cousins at the Zita cinema in Stockholm and a screening of Manuscripts Don't Burn.
This year’s spotlight is Freedom and Mohammad Rasoulof’s film is part of this section. The Stockholm International Film Festival has earlier announced that the Chinese artist Ai Weiwei, who also is being prohibited from leaving his country, is a jury member.
High res images: http://www.stockholmfilmfestival.se/en/press/press-pictures-2013
Press contact:
Johnny Nylund
Phone: + 46 72 914 6005
Fanny Westin
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E-mail: press@stockholmfilmfestival.se
The 24th Stockholm International Film Festival November 6-17 2013.
The Stockholm International Film Festival started in 1990 and is today one of the leading competitive film festivals in Northern Europe. The festival takes place every year in November with more than 180 films from more than 50 countries. More than a festival: we organize exclusive screenings and the popular Summer Cinema – an outdor mini-festival. Every year in spring the Stockholm International Film Festival Junior brings the latest films to youngsters between 6 and 16 years of age.
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