Jafar Panahi Shares His Thoughts on the Islamic Regime During His First U.K. Visit in 20 Years
Jafar Panahi Condemns Violence Against Protesters in Iran During London Visit
Acclaimed Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi, visiting London for the first time in two decades, voiced strong criticism against the Iranian Islamic Republic, accusing it of “murdering” student protesters during recent unrest in Tehran.
Panahi is in the U.K. to attend the EE BAFTA Film Awards on Sunday, where his latest film, It Was Just An Accident, is nominated in the category for Best Film Not in the English Language.
Speaking through interpreter Iante Roach at a reception hosted by MUBI at Soho House, Panahi discussed the challenges he faced in gaining entry to the U.K. “Unfortunately, the [U.K.] government wouldn’t give me a visa. One of the many excuses that they employed was that I spent time behind bars, and I never really understood what they meant,” he stated, referring to his previous incarcerations in Iran on charges of anti-government propaganda.
At the reception, Panahi emphasized the dire situation in Iran, stating, “Unfortunately, my country Iran is not in a good place today. Actually, it’s going through its worst period. But this film is a very good document. It shows that the people of my country reject violence. And yet, unfortunately, violence is imposed on them by those in power.”
He highlighted the tragic events of last month, noting, “In the events that unfolded one month ago, 235 school students were murdered. That is, of course, 235 school students whose names have been found. There are many other children whose whereabouts are completely uncertain. This really proves that the demonstrators were not violent demonstrators. Fathers and mothers went onto the street with their children.”
Panahi elaborated on his motivation to create the film, stating, “What motivated me the most was to make a film at the heart of this regime looking at the future and asking: Can we have a future without violence?”
He remarked on the collaborative spirit involved in the production, saying, “Everyone took great risks from actors to DoPs to sound recordists. Every single person involved in the making of this film wanted to make an independent film, and our greatest desire was to share it with world audiences. Let us hope that more and more of these films will be made, and let us hope that one day we will be in a world where the cycle of violence stops everywhere.”
Despite the risks, Panahi expressed determination to return to Iran, acknowledging, “There are threats that I’ll be arrested. I do not fear what awaits me there.”
Arianna Bocco, MUBI’s global distribution chief, introduced Panahi and Philippe Martin, a Paris-based supporter of several of his films, to BAFTA members during the private reception.
