Film orgs start online petition to urge lifting of Panahi's sentence (SCR)

By Nancy Tartaglione

A group of film organizations, including the Cannes and Locarno Film Festivals, has started an online petition to call for the lifting of the sentence against Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi, Screen reports. Panahi was sentenced to six years in prison on Monday and banned from directing and producing films for the next 20 years, along with being banned from foreign travel or speaking to media, The Guardian reported, citing his lawyer.

Panahi won the Camera d'Or in Cannes for his first film, "The White Balloon," in 1995 as well as Venice's Golden Lion for his 2000 drama, "The Circle."

He was convicted of colluding in gathering and making propaganda against the regime, his lawyer told the Iranian state news agency, ISNA.

In the introduction to the petition, the groups wrote: "The truth is that Jafar Panahi is innocent and his only crime is wishing to continue to freely exercise his profession as a filmmaker in Iran. Over the last few months the Iranian government has put into place against him nothing short of a machine of war in order to destroy him, while locking him up to silence him."

The petition continues: Through this sentence inflicted upon Jafar Panahi, it is manifestly all of Iranian cinema which is targeted.

"This sentence both revolts and scandalises us. So, let us call upon all filmmakers, actors and actresses, screenwriters and producers, all motion-picture professionals as well as every man and woman who loves freedom and for whom human rights are fundamental, to join us in demanding the lifting of this sentence."