Iranian director Ali Ahmadzadeh, who gained Locarno’s Golden Leopard for his clandestinely shot movie Vital Zone in 2023 , says he’s dwelling in concern of imminent imprisonment after a gaggle of fifty armed males broke into his residence this week whereas he was capturing a brand new movie.
Ahmadzadeh stated the boys went on to “steal” his telephone; computer systems; a tough disk holding his previous films; awards, together with his Golden Leopard, and all his capturing tools, which was being rented.
“Additionally they took the work in my home, all my papers, all my photos, every part, my passport, ID playing cards, financial institution accounts – my entire my life. It’s a giant assault on Iranian unbiased cinema,” he stated in an electronic mail which has been made out there to Deadline.
Extra worryingly, for the director, one of many individuals conducting the raid issued a summons at gunpoint ordering him to attend an appointment on the Ministry of Info, which he fears is step one to him being jailed.
Cannes Palme d’Or winner Jafar Panahi, who has additionally executed jail time in Iran for standing up for cinematic freedom of expression, posted footage of Ahmadzadeh’s ransacked residence, calling the raid an act of “authorities terrorism”.
“What occurred to Ali Ahmadzadeh was not an armed theft, it was a psychological terror. It was an assault geared toward crushing will, destroying hope, breaking the digicam. However they don’t perceive that no authorities can cease the dream with weapons and concern.”
Panahi stated the raid was at odds with the federal government’s latest overtures to Iran’s cinema neighborhood and solutions it needed to take a extra open stance.
“This is identical authorities whose president in entrance of the digicam falsely breathes “speak to opposition” and with a Minister of Steerage who desires of returning exiled artists. Will they be ‘greeted’ by authorities kidnappers as quickly as they enter the nation? Or should they first swear that they won’t do something, say something, really feel something.”
Panahi stated the raid marked a decisive second for Iran’s cinema neighborhood.
“If we stay silent in the present day, tomorrow it is going to be the flip of each Iranian filmmaker, even those that make films with licenses,” he wrote.
Ahmadzadeh has beforehand discovered himself within the crosshairs of Iran’s hardline authorities for Vital Zone, which he shot in secret with out permits and with a solid of non-professional actors.
The Iranian and German co-production follows a drug seller as he navigates Tehran’s underworld over the course one night time.
Following the announcement that the had been chosen for Locarno in 2023, Ahmadzadeh got here underneath intense strain from the Iranian authorities to withdraw the movie, and was stopped from leaving Iran to attend the competition.
