Jafar Panahi calls Oscar to change international rules of functions

Jafar Panhi Is one of the fists of the director who achieved the feat of the conquest of Venice Golden Leo, Berlin Golden Bear and Cannes Palme D’or. But he was never part of Oscar’s race.

Why? Since IRAN has never invested any film of the dissident director, which has long banned the country to make movies – although they made them – and called them twice.

But with his recent Palma’s winner, or it was just an accident, “the American distributor of Neon and her French producer, Philippe Martin, starting Panahi for Oscar Glory, starting with trying to hand over the film as their candidate for the best international function.

In the meantime, after stopping at the Toronto Film Festival, Panahi received a visa for entry in the United States and will attend Telluride and New York Film Festivals. The film, which follows a group of former political prisoners who hinder the man who they believe will be their former intergorator, will be published by Neon in the USA 15. October.

According to Martin, the French State Film Entity CNC has given approval that the film is on the list of titles from which the country will choose its candidate Oscars Race.

“It’s a Great Opportunity for France To Honor Panahi, Nothing That He Is The Only Living Director To Have Won Top Prizes and Cannes, Venice and Berlin,” Martin Said, Pointing Out That The Recent Cannes Palme Generated An “Unprecedented Amount Of Press” And Has Had A “Huge Echo” Both “Artistically and Political.”

Below, Panahi speaks Variety About what was from Cannes and why the Oscar for “It was just an accident” would be significant – not only for him, but for all “independent filmmakers who do not want to be under pressure censorship. “

After you returned to Iran immediately. I saw a video greeted you at Tehran Airport. What was the government’s reaction to your victory? Has it created all the problems for you or anyone else involved in the film?

The government reacted as if they were always working. Usually, when there are big news about the Iranian cinema, such as this award – which they have won filmic realities who are not in line with government policies – they claim that these are political rewards and do not have artistic credit. Their style is to highlight 5% of all film reviews, cherries that have chosen those that are negative. And they usually broadcast them in their television and radio programs to say the public that there is no artistic value behind the film. But the way in which the film received the cinema house, whose children were closed and held as political prisoners, it was very different. They came and greeted me at the airport and at me.

More at all, what did you do after Cannes? Did you think about making another movie?

Well, not because I have to travel to the campaign “It was just an accident” (rewards). When I had limitations on my travels, at least a good aspect that was that as soon as I finish the movie, I had to start thinking about another movie. But now I will have to capitulate what the distribution companies want and I have to do a campaign to promote this movie.

Then, how I understand that, you left Iran to go to the film festival in Sydney, Australia. While you were there, Israel attacked Iran. During the conflict, you started an instagram appeal, basically invited Iranance to stand up against the regime. Can you talk to me about the decision to give that statement and its possible consequences?

Friends and I who wrote that statement tells the same in the last 15 years. At first, we called for a referendum. As soon as you start calling a referendum, it means that the regime has lost legitimacy. When I was in prison, we kept looking for a referendum, but we were aware that this could no longer be a solution. We were aware that this is the only nonviolent way that this regime goes, the regime itself is, by nature, will not accept the referendum. So, we are constantly looking for it, but we know it’s useless. The statement that we have achieved has had nothing to do with the fact that Iran was in war, bombed by Israel. It is in line with what we are already thinking and looking for people.

After the conflict with Israel, the situation in Iran was somehow faded in the western media, the spotlight was on Ukraine and Gaza. I know you don’t have a crystal ball, but what do you think: Do you think the decline in the regime could be inevitable?

During women, life, the movement of freedom was sure that this regime must go. And that will go. Because under all aspects, it was destroyed inside. We don’t know when it will fall. That could be tomorrow; That could be a month; One year. We have no idea. But we are sure it will fall.

Have you returned to Iran from the conflict of Israel-Iran?

When the war happened, I was in Sydney. I was trying hard to go back to Iran and all roads were closed. There was no way to get there. When I won a reward (in Sydney), I wasn’t willing to go on stage, because I was extremely released in a bad mental state. Judges came to my place to give me a reward because I was constantly thinking about the war and my country. After that, I became very close to the border and I tried to enter the ground, but there was no way to enter. So I stayed in Paris. But I arrived at the first possible flight and returned to Iran. When I got there, Prison Evin (where political prisoners are held) and they took prisoners to another prison. I picked up my friend’s mother who was a scribe with him (“It wasn’t an accident”) with me and went to visit my friend in the second prison.

Since then, I traveled to other movie festivals, including Locarno, and I may need to do more travel. But whenever I’m out Iran, I become very depressed. I don’t have the ability to stay out too long, so I always look for opportunities to come back, and I have no problem with the return. Every time I come back, I’m getting tiring and I want to stay.

Let’s talk about the opening “It wasn’t an accident” in the US and Oscar campaign behind the film. How was the first time to be part of an international prize campaign?

Unfortunately, none of my films have ever presented Iran for Oscar. I remember that “offside” (2006) wrote to Iranian officials to allow the film to comply with the rules of the Academy (that Oscar candidate had to be released in his country of origin), but the government refused. Not before or after this, none of my films are shown in Iran. These are the possibilities (for the victory in Oscar) that the state is constantly taken from Iranian Kino. It’s not just (about) my movies, but the movies of my friends who have never recorded in the Oscars. After that incident, I’ve never thought about them much.

Now with the distribution of this film (from neon) and post-production of this film in France and Luxembourg, I really don’t know what happens. I don’t know whether any of these countries will put the film forward (as their Oscar competition).

How do you see the perspectives of France or Luxembourg who is picking “it was just an accident” like their Oscar candidate?

My greatest desire for all my movies setting up (to consider the Oscar) by my country. I think the real problem lies within the Academy Rules. I do not understand when it will finally change the rules (related to governments involved in the selection process). The Academy is the only cultural entity that products in the world around the world depend on their governments. When filmmakers send their movies to festivals, they do not have to rely on any government institutions. The rules of the Academy work for countries with democratic governments, but not for countries with despotic regimes. If I want to compete in Oscars, I have to film a film that is in line with the taste and styles of the government to even show in Iran.

The Olympiad has a category for independent athletes. Would you like to be an Oscar Category for Independent Movie Cats that are not in line with your governments?

Yes, but we should see how it would be played in reality. You would have to find people around the world (to set the board) to choose movies made by independent film creators. So, I believe it’s a good idea, but what really matters is to execute that. Meanwhile, a group of film nuts is in the process of making a letter and sending at the Academy to say, “What you do really don’t work and you need to establish a new category.”

What would be the significance of “it was not an accident” conquering one or more Oscars? What would that mean for you and what do you think that could spread greatly?

I think it would use it to many independent film cameras that do not want to be under pressure censorship and who would amplify. They could give independent films without taking care of government constraints. I believe everyone would benefit from it.

Current limitations in the Oscar competition remind me that the Iranian government tells that I can no longer make movies. I was forbidden to make movies for about 20 years. But I and my friend Movie Mohammad Rasouloff did not despair. We were constantly thinking about how we could make movies and in the end we succeeded. Now many Iranian movies that are independently are presented at festivals around the world. By creating a new category, Oscari, like other movie events around the world, would have a very positive impact on the enabling film creators to continue their movies and give them hope.