Film strike called for jailed Iran director

A filmmaker called on Wednesday for the cinema industry worldwide to stage a symbolic strike in protest at the jailing of fellow Iranian director Jafar Panahi for alleged subversion.

Rafi Pitts, a Paris-based Iranian-born filmmaker, called for the industry to stop work for two hours at 3:00 pm local time in February 11, the anniversary of the 1979 revolution that brought the country's clerical regime to power.

"We suggest to all filmmakers, members of the film industry, regardless of your country or borders, religion or politics, to support our fellow filmmakers, by not working for two hours," Pitts said in a statement.

He called it a gesture of "solidarity" with Panahi and his collaborator, Mohammad Rasoulof.

Panahi, 50, widely known outside Iran for award-winning films such as "The Circle," "Crimson Gold" and "Offside", was handed a six-year jail term this month by an Iranian court for "propaganda against the system," his lawyer said.

Authorities accused Panahi of making an "anti-regime" film about the unrest which rocked Iran after the disputed re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in June 2009.

Rasoulof, another director working with him, was also reportedly sentenced to six years' jail.

Pitts said the two "are both punished for caring about their fellow man. Punished for wanting to understand the events of June 2009," in a letter addressed to Ahmadinejad, accompanying Wednesday's statement.

Panahi's lawyer Farideh Gheirat said last week the court banned him from making films or leaving Iran for 20 years.

Panahi's arrest in March was protested by artists including top filmmakers Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, Ang Lee and Oliver Stone.

AFP