Amiryosefi’s request to Khazaei: ‌ Provide freedom of filmmaking

Theater News Base: Last evening, May 7, the Cinema Directors Association’s celebration was held with the presence of a group of filmmakers and actors, and the specialized directorial judging in this first competitive union celebration was one of the most important reasons for holding it.

In this program, Mohsen Amiryousefi – President of the Cinema Directors Association – said that the competition of the Directors Association is a continuation of the path of change and evolution of the festivals of the previous periods of this association, said: However, RFE / RL and Satra are against this view and want to limit and eliminate home theater series day by day by censoring and not granting licenses. Opposing this, we hope this problem will be solved as soon as possible.

“Unfortunately, a number of directors could not attend the screening due to the non-release of their films, which we are sorry about; Directors of successful films at international festivals that have not had the opportunity to screen in any cinema or even the Fajr Festival, the most prominent of which in the last two years are Mohammad Rasulov with “There Is No Devil” and Panah Panahi with “Dirt Road”. Also, the directors of films that unfortunately have not been released yet, such as Hamid Nematollah with “The Killer and the Wild”, Kianoosh Ayari with “Couch”, Abdolreza Kahani with “Sincerely, Nazanin Bahareh Tina” and Saman Moghadam with “One Hundred Years to These Years”.

Recalling the recent order of Khazaei – the head of the Cinema Organization – for films produced without a production license, Amiri Yousefi said: “In the right action, a call was issued to review films produced without a production license. Many of them also have production licenses that can be screened to make Iranian cinema prosperous. We hope that the conditions for filmmaking will be provided as much as possible for the young and dynamic directors of Iranian cinema; Young directors who only need a production license and can produce their own work, but unfortunately the restrictive laws do not allow this, and in some cases, the directors of the first film and the young directors of the center instead of producing themselves or working with professional and cinema-loving producers. To fall into the trap of the few fake producers of cinema, which is unfortunate.

He continued: “We hope that with the boom in cinema production, along with young directors, old cinema directors can continue to work, directors before and after the revolution who in the sixties, despite all the restrictions and pressures, were able to save Iranian cinema from destruction.” We were able to appreciate the services of only a few of these loved ones on the nights of the Directors’ Club. Directors who are still able to work, as well as keeping the light of the popular and thoughtful cinema of the sixties and seventies. They can still work even if they are housewives or like Bahram Beizai and Amir Naderi and other directors abroad.

The director of “Lovely Garbage” emphasized: ‌ We cinematographers today need friendship, love of union and good mood more than ever, because our main task is to keep well the people and the culture and art of our country, like a good mood Which was in the old films of Iranian cinema, in “The Tenants”, “Basho the Little Stranger”, “Close-up”, “Where is the Friend’s House”, “Runner”, “Mother”, “The Key”, “Need”, “The Last Curtain” , “O Iran”, “Blue Scarf”, “Nasser al-Din Shah, Cinema Actor”, “From Karkheh to the Rhine”, “Deep Breath”, “Under the Moonlight”, “White Balloon” and dozens of other films that we do not see similar today . These films belong to a time when Iranian cinema was in a good mood, when all directors, with all their thoughts and tastes, had a small share in the production and release of Iranian cinema. The good news of Iranian cinema was when commercial and body cinema directors, independent and international directors, and directors of well-known films each had a share of freedom in Iranian cinema.

He said: “We hope that Mr. Khazaei, as a producer familiar with cinema affairs, who is trying to improve the situation of cinema, will improve the conditions for issuing licenses, production, screening and the livelihood of cinema people with the help of the cinema house.” Restore and provide freedom of filmmaking for all Iranian filmmakers. This is the secret of the good mood of Iranian cinema, which can bring and satisfy millions of cinema audiences with any thoughts and tastes, as in the past. Is.

The first celebration of the Directors’ Association was accompanied by the selection of three filmmakers, namely Asghar Farhadi for the film “Hero”, Bahman and Bahram Ark for the film “Skin” and Tina Pakravan for the home network series “Khatoon”. Abolhassan Davoodi, Ahmad Amini, Mohsen Amiryousefi, Mohammad Reza Arab, Mehdi Naderi and Majid Barzegar were.

The statement of the jury of this festival, read by Davoodi, said: Analyze as much as possible and reach the final opinion away from possible categories and margins. It is clear that these opinions are the product of the exchange of tastes and knowledge of this jury, and of course the result of hours of discussion and commentary on the concept of “directing”.

We tried to see professional mastery and decision-making as we consider innovation and new proposals. As much as we worry about the dominance of repetition and stereotypes, we try to consider the directors’ efforts to face the masses with respect. “We tried to respect the presence of producers in various sectors who produce for the production of healthy cinema and the prosperity of theaters, as we assess the commitment of cinema independent of order and money.”

In another part of the judges ‘statement, some suggestions to the Directors’ Association were mentioned:

1- All works produced in one year of Iranian cinema deserve the title of “Iranian cinema”. It is suggested that all the productions of Iranian cinema be reviewed in the following periods. How many important films are not allowed to be shown to the public due to the complex and effective screening conditions, but at the same time have successful screenings in various festivals. It is a necessity to develop a precise and comprehensive regulations.

2- It is suggested that immediately after this year’s celebration, the jury of the next period be elected so that the works can be seen on the big screen at the appropriate time.

3- In the inevitable time of online display, naturally the list of examined works will be long. It is suggested that a committee for initial elections at the Permanent Secretariat of the Celebration be responsible for this review.

4- The decision to judge the home drama series was a professional decision by the center. We hope this decision will affect the quality of these works.

5- The first step definitely has some shortcomings, including hesitation in showing some works during the beginning of the corona epidemic and the closure of cinemas. The jury, under the supervision of the Central Council of the Center, reviewed the list of nominated works. It is possible that one or two films on this list were inadvertently missed. “Introducing the secretary of the next term and the executive team will definitely reduce this possible mistake in holding future terms.”