In July, Iran arrested three filmmakers for speaking out against police violence and the persecution of women in the country, including prominent directors Jafar Panahi and Mohammad Rasoulof. Now, a fourth veteran Iranian filmmaker is facing repercussions for speaking out, as “Subtraction” director Mani Haghighi told IndieWire that his passport was confiscated at the Tehran International Airport on Thursday while he was en route to the BFI London Film Festival. He was prevented from boarding his flight and returned home.
“I thought this was going to happen,” he said in a voice memo on Thursday shortly after he was informed of the decision. “It’s just their attempt to intimidate us. The more noise we make, the less successful that plan will be.”
A spokesperson for the BFI London Film Festival told IndieWire that the festival was aware of the situation. “We understand that no reason has been given to Mani Haghighi for the confiscation,...
“I thought this was going to happen,” he said in a voice memo on Thursday shortly after he was informed of the decision. “It’s just their attempt to intimidate us. The more noise we make, the less successful that plan will be.”
A spokesperson for the BFI London Film Festival told IndieWire that the festival was aware of the situation. “We understand that no reason has been given to Mani Haghighi for the confiscation,...
- 10/14/2022
- by Eric Kohn
- Indiewire
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