Sep 28, 2022
Solidarity with the Women and Men Protesting in Iran

The Berlinale supports the call for solidarity from Iranian filmmakers:

Dear friends and colleagues,

Brave Iranians have taken to the streets across the country shouting “woman, life, liberty” for an entire week now while facing persistent, violent, and often deadly attacks from the oppressive forces. The Iranian government has restricted internet usage and blocked access to social media platforms in order to further suppress people’s voices. Last time such measures were implemented in 2019, the Iranian government murdered 1500 people.
Independent Iranian filmmakers are standing by these fearless Iranian women and men and are trying hard to capture and document history as it unfolds with limited resources. They are committed to being the truthful, independent, and courageous narrators of history. To be the voice of the people.
For years, the Iranian government has used censorship and repression at home under the guise of supporting freedom elsewhere in the world. We are now directly appealing to every filmmaker in the world: your solidarity with the people of Iran sends a clear message to warmongers everywhere.
We ask you to further echo the rallying cries of Iranians for freedom. Become the voice of those people who are paying with their lives for freedom.
Your direct and public support offers hope to our youths. Reporting on the news of violence used against our people can prevent more violence and bloodshed.

Shirin Neshat, Zar Amir Ebrahimi, Pegah Ahangarani, Bahman Ghobadi, Abdolreza Kahani, Ali Abbasi, Kaveh Farnam, Farzad Pak, Ali Ahmadzadeh, Bahram Beyzai and Mozhdeh Shamsai.