IIFMA Shares Heartfelt Tribute to Musicians, Filmmakers, and Artists Lost or Detained in Iran – Berlin
The Iranian Independent Filmmakers Association (IIFMA) made a notable return to the Berlinale this year, featuring a stand, a flashmob, and a panel discussion advocating for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to cease accepting Oscar submissions from Iran’s state-controlled Farabi Cinema Foundation.
This marks the third consecutive year that IIFMA has participated in the festival, which was established in 2023 following the Woman Life Freedom movement ignited by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody on September 22, 2022.
The panel, whose topic was decided in late December, took on a solemn tone in light of the severe crackdown by Iran’s Islamic Republic government on anti-government protests that unfolded on January 8 and 9, resulting in thousands dead or detained.
The event began with a montage of footage gathered from social media and direct submissions to IIFMA from Iran, depicting the protests and subsequent violence.
“I welcome you to this very important panel but as you know we have to adjust when the world changes,” stated IIFMA board member Mahshid Zamani in her introduction. She added, “I’m going to share a short video which shows a few scenes from an unimaginable massacre that happened in Iran, in my country, on January 8 and 9, just a few weeks ago… the images shown are chilling… they serve as a reminder of the struggles faced by those yearning for freedom.”
Zamani emphasized that the footage illustrated the courage and longing of the Iranian people while exposing the harsh realities imposed by a repressive regime. She noted that many artists had been killed while bravely standing up for their beliefs during the recent uprisings.
The video depicted harrowing scenes, including Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) officers violently subduing women, the aftermath of gunfire, and relatives searching for loved ones among rows of body bags.
Before the video, Zamani read aloud a list of musicians, artists, filmmakers, and actors who have been confirmed dead in the crackdown, inviting the audience to applaud each name.
Panelists included screenwriter Shadmehr Rastin, Richard Lorber, chairman and CEO of Kino Lorber, and film programmer Céline Roustan. They discussed the selection process controlled by Iran’s Islamic Regime for the International Feature Film category.
In pre-recorded comments, Rastin explained how Farabi’s submission process operates and the arguments for supporting independent cinema. Lorber, who participates as a voter for the international category, acknowledged his initial lack of awareness regarding the implications of Farabi’s involvement, a sentiment likely shared by other Academy members.
He remarked that he had watched Farabi’s submission for the 98th Academy Awards, Cause of Death: Unknown by Ali Zarnegar, and did not perceive it as overtly pro-regime. An audience member noted that this submission was a strategic attempt by Farabi to counter the influence of dissident director Panahi’s Cannes Palme d’Or-winning It Was Just An Accident, which was submitted by France and has achieved final nomination status.
Zamani pointed out that it was unexpected for Iranian directors to represent Iran under the current selection process, suggesting the attitude among many has shifted dramatically. The panelists highlighted a boycott of the recent Fajr Film Festival in Tehran, a sign of the discontent among cinema professionals regarding government cooperation.
The event concluded with IIFMA hosting a flashmob at Potsdamer Platz in Berlin, re-enacting scenes of body bags and paying tribute to the deceased.
A List of Arts and Culture Professionals Affected
Confirmed Dead
- Ahmad Abbasi – Filmmaker
- Shokoufeh Abdi – Photographer
- Melika Dastyab – Musician
- Pouya Faragardi – Musician
- Shabnam Ferdowsi – Puppeteer, Graphic Designer
- Javad Ganji – Filmmaker
- Sorena Golgoun – Musician
- Yaser Modir-Rousta – Musician
- Sanam Pourbabaei – Musician
- Sahba Rashtian – Painter, Animation Director
- Foad Safayi – Musician
- Mehdi Salahshour – Sculptor
- Zohre Shamaeizade – Script Supervisor, Voice Actor
- Mohammed ‘Shahou’ Shirazi – Singer
- Mostafa Rabeti – Filmmaker
- Reyhaneh Yousefi – Actor
- Amir-Ali Zarei – Musician, Art Student
Confirmed Detained
- Dawood Abbasi – Filmmaker, Cinematographer
- Ghazale Vakili – Actor
- Navid Zarehbin – Filmmaker
- Kimia Mousavi – Artist
