Tuesday 14/11/2000

Prefacing the Iranian director Jafar Panahi, the director of New Horizons Mr. Eipides highlighted Festival's effort to promote Iranian filmmaking. This effort begun in 1992 when important Iranian directors such as Kiarostami, Mahmalbaf and others were screened. He underlined the international recognition and approval of Mr. Panahi's films, the prize-winning film "The Circle" with the Golden Lion in the recent Film Festival and the director's artistic value as well.

"My previous films concerned children, their world and their special way to get what they want. The main spur for the film "The circle" comes from these films. I asked myself when these children grow up will they try as hard to get what they want or will they yield to social pressure and be forced to surrender? I cannot lie and thus the perception of these conditions forces me not to see things from children's point of view but to see them as a mirror and reflection of reality" the Iranian director added.

He mentioned the obstacles he faced since he was not allowed to shoot the film and the Iranian regime forbid him to be a director on the plea of his award-winning artistic creations abroad. Nevertheless, Jafar Panahi, supported by the independent Iranian press and his colleagues, managed to take permission to shoot any other film than "The Circle". Eventually, and under the constant pressure, the State gave him the permission to shoot underlining though that his film will be judged when finished. Mr. Panahi revealed that when the film was ready, the hid several copies in various places in Iran. He also pointed out that the screening of this film in Iran Film Festival was not allowed although the Competition Jury regarded it as a very special film. As for the screening of the film in the recent Venice Film Festival, the director explained that again he had no permission from the Iranian regime. Moreover, the film has been screened in Iran.

Mr. Panahi cited that Iranian artists have learnt to live under limitations and restrictions. "When you live in a circle, spontaneously you learn how to get out it" he said. He also mentioned that his desire was to shoot a film in order to show the real situation in his homeland, to shoot a film for simple people and not a political one since he never wanted to accept or value any political party. "All people live in a circle. Circles like that exist in every country and only their diameter changes according to the social and economical conditions," he explained.

Concluding, Mr. Panahi said that filmmaking is the most important element in his life but he does not press himself to shoot one film after the other. Whenever he feels he has something to say, whenever an event sparks off consciousnesses, then he will shoot his next film. ---