Documentary filmmakers and filmmakers boycott the State Cinema of Truth festival
Cinema Haqiqat is the flagship international film festival of Iran, which began in 2007 by the Center for the Development of Documentary and Experimental Cinema of the Cinema and Audiovisual Organization of the Ministry of Culture and Guidance. Every year in December, it broadcasts documentary works from the International Documentary Film Festival of Iran.
December of this year marks the 16th state-run "Cinema Haqiqat" festival, which also coincides with nationwide protests in Iran.
But the "Cinema of Truth" of this state-run festival was boycotted by a statement from more than 200 Iranian documentary filmmakers and filmmakers inside and outside the country.
According to the DW news agency, the artists who boycotted Cinema Haqiqat issued a statement in which they announced: "For more than two months, the protesting people of Iran have been subjected to the most brutal attacks of repression. Many compassionate people, journalists, and people of culture and art are in prison, and many children and young people have lost their lives. In these sad and regrettable circumstances, we consider holding a documentary film festival and celebration to be ignoring the grief of the people who are the true owners of culture and art. We, a group of filmmakers, people of culture and art, and the special and general audience of the 16th Cinema Haqiqat Film Festival, while expressing solidarity with the noble and grieving people of Iran, boycott any online presence and participation in this edition of the festival."
The Iranian Independent Filmmakers Association (IIFMA), which was formed outside Iran in recent days, also supported this statement and stated that this action by the people of culture and art is very encouraging and uplifting.
After the nationwide strikes carried out by many truck drivers, as well as our dear compatriots who have boycotted the products of many state-owned companies, the question for the Iranian people is this: Will all those present in government bodies, including culture and art, ministries, and other organizations, join the passionate uprising and nationwide strikes of our free compatriots by boycotting and halting all means against the government of the Islamic Republic and overthrowing this regime?
