Cannes Film Festival as it runs from May 11 to 22 will honour two jailed Iranian Directors namely Jafar Panahi and Mohammad Rasoulof.
The films “Goodbye’ of Rasoulof and “This is Not a Film” of Panahi will be shown during the festival according to the organizers.
Gilles Jacob and Thierry Fremaux, Cannes organizers said that they had sent the films to Cannes, during the period that they had encountered that same fate, and it is a sign of their courage expressed in an incredible artistic message.
Carrosse d ‘Or Award – The Golden Coach Prize will be awarded to Panahi from the French Film Directors Society during the Festival.
The film makers were convicted due to the alleged works against the Iranian system in December and the two were given a sentenced of six years of imprisonment for separate cases.
Panahi, in a statement released in Italy last November was accused and went to trial at the Iranian court for filming without permission and stirring up protests of opposition after the dubious 2009 presidential election leading to political problems that lasted for months.
Panahi is known for his vocal expression of criticism towards strict Islamic law and governance of Iran and his films are often considered as a social commentary.
Unfortunately, Panahi together with Rasoulof were making film before Panahi was arrested.
Panahi is an accomplished director who had won numerous awards from international film fest, including the 2006 Berlin Film Festivals Silver Bear Award for the film “Offside.”
Panahi, due to his imprisonment was also prevented from attending the latest Venice Film Festival in September.