Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi, whose incarceration in Tehran made him a cause celebre at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, will bring his latest film to the Venice Film Festival in September.
On Friday, Venice organizers announced that Panahi is expected to attend the Giornate degli Autori – Venice Days section of the festival with his short film “The Accordion.”
The director had been invited to serve on a jury at Cannes, but was not able to attend because he was imprisoned on unspecified charges likely related to his criticism of the country’s ruling regime. Culture Minister Mohammed Hosseini said the filmmaker was making an “anti-regime” movie, a charge that Panahi denied.
Panahi was arrested on March 1 and held for three months. He went on a hunger strike while in prison, released a statement that was read at a Cannes press conference, and was eventually freed on bail on May 25, shortly after the conclusion of that festival.
At the Cannes awards ceremony, actress Juliette Binoche held up a sign bearing Panahi’s name.
“The Accordion” film deals with a pair of young street musicians. In the Venice statement, Panahi said the film “shows my feelings about what’s happening and how I see reality.” His other films include “Circle” and “Offside,” which won awards at the Venice and Berlin film festivals, respectively.
