MR. KIAROSTAMI PREVENTED FROM US OPENING OF HIS FILM
PARIS 20 Sept. (IPS) Mr. Abbas Kiarostami, the world-famed Iranian film
Director was prevented to attend ceremonies in the US to present his last film,
"Ten", as the United States embassy in Paris refused to assist him
getting entry visa, according to press report.
Mr. Kirostami, considered by most experts as one of the world’s greatest movie directors, was to attend the New York International Film Festival, the Columbus University of Ohio and the Harvard University of Boston to present his new work on 28 September, but he was prevented from the trip, due to new American visa regulations against nationals of some Middle Eastern nations, on top of them the Islamic Republic.
Even an intervention from Mr. Jack Lang, the former French Culture and National Education Minister and Mr. Marin Karmitz, the producer of Mr. Kiarostami’s "Ten" to the American ambassador, Mr. Howard Leach, did not help, the Embassy’s consular section replying adamantly that the new regulations requires a person to person interview and at least eight weeks of administrative paperwork "to study the demand".
Asked by journalists to know that if a movie Director of Mr. Kiarostami’s calibre, who is also known and admired for his humanistic works and certainly is not a terrorist, should get better treatment, including a faster check on his case, a press spokesman at the Paris Embassy said "the answer is a plain no!"
In fact, it seems that Mr. Kiarostami did not go himself to the American consulate, as it is a mandatory step, and representatives from the New York film festival and the universities he was to give conferences made the demand on his behalf.
"This is a typical case of intellectual isolationism and reveals a degree of ignorance of the world close to disdain for other’s cultures a", the influential evening daily "Le Monde" quoted a visibly horrified Lang, describing the Americans attitude.
"Maybe Mr. Kiarostami is luckier than another of his colleague and countryman, also another world famous fild Director who received the Venice’s Lion Award for his recent "Circle", as Mr. Ja’far Panahi, who was also to attend the premiere of his film in New York on May, two years ago, was arrested and jailed manu military by American custom officials before being deported back to his home country", Le Monde suggested in its 21 September issue.
Iran Press Service was not able to join the film director for comment and a person close to him said Mr. Kiarostami had already left France for England. ENDS KIAROSTAMI VISA 20902