Iran dir. declines US fest invitation

Iranian director Massoud Bakhshi has declined US film festival showing sympathy with Iranians as a nation under cruel sanctions.

The director invited to Sundance Film Festival rejected the invitation despite a waiver of travel ban to the US with artist Visa provided by the request of President and Founder of Sundance Institute Robert Redford.

Iranian director said in a press release, “Under the current situation, I will not attend your festival and prefer to stand by [my] people who have been subject to years of sanctions, pressure, discrimination, deprivation, and all-out prohibition at the hands of all sick-minded warmongers.”

He added, “Please convey my regards to Mr. Robert Redford. He called his president a dictator attacking the values America holds dear. The Iranians understand this note, hopefully the Americans follow the suit. We are in a time of darkness, and we need the light of culture more than ever. I hope your festival can dime some light on that darkness.”

The Sundance Film Festival as the largest showcase for US indiheld January 23 to February 2, 2019 in the US was set to host Bakhshi's feature 'Yalda, a Night for Forgiveness' jointly produced by Iran, France, Germany, Switzerland and Luxembourg.

AG/AG