Iranian independent cinema honored at the 73rd edition of the Berlinale
Jury member Golshifteh Farahani at the opening ceremony of the Berlin International Film Festival, Germany, Thursday, February 16, 2023. AP - Markus Schreiber
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This is the 73rd edition of the Berlin International Film Festival.
The Berlinale is traditionally a very political festival, which echoes the struggles or issues of the world.
The opening ceremony was thus marked by the presence, on video, of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
This Saturday, February 18, it is Iran, where popular demonstrations hostile to the mullahs' regime have been taking place since September, which will be in the spotlight.
Several independent Iranian films have thus been selected in different sections of the German festival.
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With our special correspondent in Berlin,
Sophie Torlotin
The first time Iranian actress Golshifteh Farahani came to Berlin was in 2009 for
Asghar Farhadi 's film
About Ely.
Since then, she has left her country, lives in France and this year returns to the
Berlinale
as a member of the jury.
"It's very symbolic to be in Berlin, this city that abolished the wall,"
she says.
We are all going through a time of transition.
Especially in Iran.
And I'm happy to be here, to fight for freedom, in Iran and in the world.
»
“
It is the end of Iranian cinematographic propaganda
”
This year, the festival has not accredited an official Iranian delegation, but several works by independent filmmakers are in the selection.
Like the animated film
The Mermaid
by Sepideh Farsi.
The director salutes the gesture of the Berlinale.
“
It is the end of the so-called revolutionary art, in fact the Iranian cinematographic propaganda,
she declares.
This is a very positive signal that the management of the Berlinale is sending to Iranian independent artists.
It's new and it will last for the next few months.
»
More than ever a platform for artists in resistance, the Berlinale is organizing a day of support for independent Iranian cinema this Saturday, including discussion sessions on the protest movement that has been going on for several months.
► To read also: In Iran, demonstrations rarer, but the protest still present
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