Nuri Bilge Ceylan’s Participation In The Iranian Film Festival Sparks Criticism And Debate
The decision of Nuri Bilge Ceylan, a renowned Turkish director, to participate in Iran's Fajr Film Festival has sparked widespread discussion in the cinema world. The festival's backing by the regime has drawn criticism from some Iranian filmmakers who are opposed to his participation. The controversy was further fueled by Ceylan's inclusion in the list of attendees as a 'special guest'. The Independent Filmmakers Association of Iran questioned his decision to attend in an open letter addressed to the famed director. In response to the barrage of criticism, Ceylan articulated his stance through a comprehensive statement.
Source: DİKEN
The Fajr Film Festival is set to take place in Shiraz from November 26 to December 3, showcasing 45 films selected from 30 countries around the globe.
The announcement of Nuri Bilge Ceylan as a 'special guest' on the festival's website caught the attention of independent cinema circles in Iran. The Iranian Independent Film Producers Association (IIFMA) penned a letter addressed to the renowned director. The letter conveyed that Ceylan's participation in the festival had stirred 'surprise and sorrow'. The association urged the director to reconsider his decision and refrain from becoming part of the regime's propaganda efforts. The open letter also brought to mind figures like Muhammed Rasoulof and Jafar Panahi, who were imprisoned due to their films.
In response to the feedback received, Ceylan conveyed his statement regarding the matter to Variety.
'The Fajr Film Festival has been taking place for at least 40 years. Like many filmmakers, I have attended numerous times. It was here that I met Theo Angelopoulos and received an award from Béla Tarr’s jury. Only a few months ago, I conducted a masterclass in Tehran and realized how valuable these encounters are for young filmmakers and cinema students living in Iran,' he shared his thoughts. Ceylan continued his statement by expressing his observation of the energy in young filmmakers: 'I saw an extraordinary spark in the youth, something I rarely see elsewhere. Iran is a dynamic society with an extraordinary cinema from which I have learned a lot.' The director pointed out that filmmakers in Iran continue to create despite challenging circumstances: 'Filmmakers living in Iran continue to make films and seek a path forward, no matter how difficult and complex the conditions are. They need more hope and such meetings than others.' Ceylan approached calls for boycotts with caution, stating, 'Boycotting a festival can certainly be understood as a form of resistance, but depriving the people living there of films to be shown or such gatherings, whatever the reason, feels like punishing them, and this does not seem right to me.' Lastly, he reminded that festivals are often subject to political debates, adding: 'Every festival is shaped around complex political dynamics. Today, there are hardly any festivals that exist without the support of the state. However, refusing to participate for political reasons seems like sacrificing art to politics.' He concluded his statement by emphasizing that attending festivals does not mean supporting governments: 'If we force festivals and the art lovers living there to bear the burden of governments' sins, there would be very few festivals left in the world exempt from boycotts. In my view, participation in festivals should not be interpreted as supporting governments, but should be seen as a way to transcend the boundaries created by political regimes among people, affirming culture and art as something above politics.'
Keşfet ile ziyaret ettiğin tüm kategorileri tek akışta gör!
Test
Gündem
Magazin
Video
Send Comment