Iranian film withdrawn from Chinese festival due to censorship claim – Hollywood Reporter
‘Infinity’
Art Hood Films
Iranian drama Nader Sefar Infinity It was excluded from the official selection of the Hainan Island International Film Festival in what filmmakers say is an act of censorship by Chinese authorities.
ArtHood Entertainment, which handles global sales for InfinityTell Hollywood Reporter They received confirmation from the Hainan Island Festival on November 19, that an Iranian drama had been selected for the event, competing in the main competition. The 2023 Hainan Festival will be held from December 16 to 22 in the tropical resort of Sanya in the southernmost province of China.
But this week, the festival pulled the film, citing “political pressure and censorship laws imposed by the Chinese government,” Art Hood said.
The Hainan Festival is supported by the state-run China Media Group and the Hainan Provincial People’s Government, under the guidance of the China Film Administration. This year’s competition jury includes international figures such as Cannes star Nuri Bilge Ceylan (About dry herbs(Iranian director Shahram Makri)Fish and cats) and French cinematographer Caroline Champeter (Holy Engines), along with prominent figures from Chinese industry, such as actor and director Dong Zhengping (Jian Bing Man) and actor Huang Xiaoming (the message), among others. Previous stars attending the event, which seemed to be on the rise before the pandemic, include Ethan Hawke, Johnny Depp, Jackie Chan, Aamir Khan, Nicolas Cage and Isabelle Huppert.
“(We) acknowledge the pressures that festivals face under repressive regimes, and applaud those who are able to maintain high artistic standards despite state censorship,” Art Hood said. “However, (we) are disappointed and shocked by the authorities’ decision.”
Hollywood Reporter She reached out to the Hainan Island Festival via email for comment but did not receive a response.
Sivar co-wrote Infinity With the famous dissident director Jaafar Panahi. Award-winning director Taxi, White balloon, CircleAnd No bearsPanahi continued to produce films despite being banned for 20 years in 2010 for alleged “propaganda” against the Islamic regime.
“I am sorry I cannot attend your festival,” Nader Sifar wrote in an email to organizers on Hainan Island, which I viewed. Hollywood Reporter. “I was eager to visit your beautiful city and have the opportunity to get to know China’s great culture better. But I would rather not attend a festival that practices censorship protocols. These censorship measures have also prevented the creation and distribution of many great films in my home country. The same outlook on art in my country has also imprisoned Many filmmakers and freedom seekers, including many female artists. Unfortunately, your festival has the same view of art censorship principles and practices. I sincerely hope we can see films created to improve justice and freedom in the world at a free festival in China.
Infinity It is the story of Ayaz, an honest and hardworking man who dreams of owning his own house and invests every penny he earns in building his future home, while living comfortably on the money sent to his mother-in-law by the son who has been living abroad for many years in exile. When the son is suddenly given permission to return, Ayaz tries to stop him by conducting a search of his house to scare him. His plans work too well: the actual Iranian secret service catches wind of the research and turns its attention to Ayaz, with disastrous consequences.
ArtHood Films and Saeivar are currently in post-production on their next film, which was also co-written by Saeivar and Panahi, and which, as ArtHood said, is “as political as, if not more so (than) Infinity), criticizing the authoritarian regime in Iran and “carrying the banner of human rights.”
Patrick Brzeski contributed to this report.
