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Europa International, Europa Distribution and Europa Cinemas join the rest of the film industry to strongly condemn the arbitrary arrests of Iranian filmmakers by the regime and demand the immediate release of Mohammad Rasoulof, Mostafa Al-Ahmad and Jafar Panahi.

Independent Iranian filmmakers Mohammad Rasoulof and Mostafa Al-Ahmad were arrested on Friday July 8th 2022 by the Iranian regime under the accusation of “having ties to anti-government groups and committing security offences. The two were among a group of actors and filmmakers who had signed an appeal that called on security forces to « lay down [their] weapons and return to the nation’s embrace » during street protests that followed a deadly building collapse in May which officials blamed on corruption and lax safety”, according to Reuters. They were arrested in their residences and transferred to prison on that same day.

Jafar Panahi, multi-awarded and world-famous independent Iranian filmmaker was then arrested while waiting in front of the prison with other Iranian filmmakers asking for the release of their colleagues.

Mohammad Rasoulof is known for several award-winning films, including The Twilight (2002); Iron Island (2005); Manuscripts Don’t Burn (2013) and There Is No Evil (2020 – Golden Bear).

Jafar Panahi has gained international recognition as an independent filmmaker with: The Mirror (1997 – Golden Leopard at the Locarno International Film Festival), The Circle (2000 – Golden Lion at the Venice International Film Festival), or Offside (2006 – Silver Bear at the Berlin Film Festival).

Iranian filmmakers and colleagues of Mohammad Rasoulof, Mostafa Al-Ahmad and Jafar Panahi wrote a petition to call upon the release of the three artists: click here.

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Picture: TAXI TEHERAN, Jafar Panahi

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