DISCUSSION
WOMEN IN IRANIAN CINEMA
"If you want to know what it's really like you must visit Iran". This statement was made today during the open discussion in warehouse C of the port in the framework of the New Horizons section by six women from Iranian cinema that were asked to give an impression about women in Iranian cinema.

The director of New Horizons, Dimitri Eipides, welcomed one the most famous actresses in Iran, Fatomeh Mothamed Aria, renowned actress and member of this year's International Competition Jury, Niki Karimi, producer and director of Women's prison, Manijeh Hekmat, actress (Women's prison) Pejah Ahangarani Farahani, actress (I'm Taraneh,15) Taraneh Alidousti, and painter and actress in Kiarostami's 10, Mania Akbari.

The six Iranian guests of the New Horizons section explained that women's problems in Iran are similar to women's problems throughout the world. "Iranian production amounts to 80-100 films per year. The productions that deal with art, though, shouldn't focus on the genders. In general, women in Iran work in the arts and cinema. From this perspective, I see no real differences between Iranian and international cinema, except that some Iranian films are banned, like Kiarostami's 10. In Iran there are 7 female producers making feature films and many more producing short films", said Manijeh Hekmat.

"In recent years more and more Iranian women participate in various sectors of life in Iran. From my own personal experience, I'd have to say that I probably ran into less problems and had fewer difficulties in cinema that women in the rest of the world. Usually foreigners are fascinated by the turban. I'm often asked if it bothers me when acting. For me, though, it's the same as a man wearing a tie. I wear it because it's the law but that doesn't mean it makes me think or deal with my problems differently", added Fatomeh Mothamed Aria.

"I wonder if there's anyplace in the world that doesn't deal with problems like divorce and unwanted pregnancies. These problems are common throughout the world. Let's not be critical and have the impression that these problems exist only in Iran", stated Taraneh Alidousti while Mania Akbari said that Iran is a country full of contrasts: "10, Taraneh and Neshat's films depict a side of reality. Every producer and director experiences reality in their own way and portrays it in their films". Actress Pejah Ahangarani Farahani, (Women's prison) spoke about meeting with women in prison during the making of her film: "I was shocked by the fact that 80% of them were under 19 years old. If they weren't in prison they would be out and free to be creative and do the things that the rest of us do Iranian society".

Renowned actress and member of this year's International Competition Jury, Niki Karimi said: "In some films, I don't think that women's role in Iran is brought out. It's a complicated country in which censorship rules. Of course there are problems like anywhere else. However, in modern-day Iran women constitute the members of a dynamic family and increasingly participate in many sectors. We should not make any presumptions based on the films alone. Recently, I was awarded for my contributions to women's rights in Iran because the 20 films in which I've played deal with that subject. However, I still believe that those films alone cannot portray reality".

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