The Iranian director Mohammad Rasoulof has been prevented from leaving his home country.
This comes shortly after fellow Iranian director Jafar Panahi could leave Iran after a travel ban against him was lifted.
Both have repeatedly gotten into conflict with the Iranian authorities, had their passports confiscated and been jailed. Last year, the Iranian authorities arrested Mohammad Rasoulof and Mostafa Al-Ahmad over an appeal they posted on social media speaking out against the disproportionate repression of civil protestors. Jafar Panahi was then arrested as he was protesting the detention of his colleagues. Now one can travel, the other not.
The the International Coalition for Filmmakers at Risk was founded by the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam, International Film Festival Rotterdam and the European Film Academy. The ICFR’s mission is to advocate for and to act in solidarity with filmmakers at risk.
The ICFR calls on the Iranian authorities to drop the travel ban against Mohammad Rasoulof and we encourage all film and culture institutions around the world to do the same.
https://www.icfr.international/news/let-mohammad-rasoulof-go/